Thousands gathered at the G.S. Ground in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, on Monday to protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which has been widely criticized by Muslim organizations in India as a “black law” that undermines community autonomy.
The demonstration was organized by the Tahaffuz Awqaf Committee Jalgaon (Waqf Bachao Samiti) as part of a “Jail Bharo Andolan,” a voluntary mass arrest campaign inspired by the nationwide strategy of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). Jalgaon marked the first district to hold a full-scale Jail Bharo protest after police denied permission for a similar event planned by the AIMPLB at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on October 12.
The event commenced with a two-hour sit-in, during which approximately 2,000 participants were detained and subsequently taken to the Jilha Peth Police Station, where they were released later in the evening.
Farooq Shaikh, an organizer of the protest, explained, “We voluntarily submitted ourselves to the police as part of the Jail Bharo Morcha. Over two thousand people joined — not just Muslims, but individuals from all communities and political backgrounds who believe in justice, equality, and the Constitution. This is a nationwide movement, and we’re proud that Jalgaon led the way with a peaceful and successful protest. Our message to the government is clear — we will not accept this unconstitutional law under any circumstances.”
A delegation led by Mufti Khalid, president of the Tahaffuz Awqaf Committee, met with Additional Collector Shrimant Harkar to submit a memorandum addressed to the President of India, outlining five key demands. These demands included the immediate repeal of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025; an end to central government control over Waqf properties; the establishment of independent and transparent Waqf Boards managed by the community; strict measures against encroachments and illegal transfers of Waqf land; and an extension of the e-registration deadline for mosques, madrasas, and dargahs on the UMEED Portal, currently set for December 5.
“This law interferes not only with our faith but also with our right to self-govern our institutions,” Mufti Khalid told Maktoob. He emphasized that their ancestors chose to remain in India after Partition because they believed in justice and equality, stating, “This movement is to protect that promise: faith, the Constitution, and justice together.” He also noted that the amendment violates constitutional guarantees under Articles 25 to 30.
The protest garnered support from various political and social groups, including the Bahujan Kranti Morcha, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). VBA district president Shameebha Bhanudas Patil condemned the amendment as a product of “Manuwadi and Sanghadi ideology aimed at restricting the social and economic independence of Muslims.”
NCP representative Pratibha Shinde described the amendment as “anti-constitutional,” asserting it “strikes at the heart of India’s secular fabric.” Shinde remarked, “When Partition tore the subcontinent apart, only one community was asked to choose — and Muslims chose this land, their homeland. They are Indians by choice, not by chance. This law insults that choice, and we stand firmly with the Muslim community in defending their constitutional rights.”
Speakers emphasized the essential role of Waqf properties for community welfare, supporting mosques, madrasas, schools, hospitals, and colleges that benefit poor and marginalized communities in regions like North Maharashtra, Nandurbar, and Jalgaon. One organizer noted, “When control tightens on Waqf lands, it isn’t only property that’s taken — it’s the lifeline that funds education for our children.”
Shaikh warned, “The Jalgaon protest was just the beginning. If this law is not repealed, we will escalate — starting with road blockades, then rail blockades, and, if necessary, an indefinite hunger strike. This struggle will not stop until justice is restored.”
Following their release, the protesters reconvened for a collective prayer led by Mufti Khalid, who stated, “We are the inheritors of a faith that believes in justice. Our resistance will remain lawful, peaceful, and unwavering.”
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