Massive protest in Kalaburagi echoes national outcry against Waqf Amendment Act, 2025
In a powerful show of unity and dissent, tens of thousands of people, predominantly from the Muslim community, gathered peacefully at Peer Bangali Ground in Kalaburagi on May 4 evening to protest the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, a law widely criticised for undermining the autonomy of Waqf institutions and enabling increased state control over Waqf properties.
Organised by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), the rally witnessed the participation of a diverse coalition — political leaders, civil society groups, Dalit organisations, and religious heads from Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, and Buddhism marking a rare instance of interfaith unity in defence of minority rights.
The six-hour event, which began around 7 p.m., ended past midnight. It featured fiery speeches, appeals, and solemn moments, including a tribute to victims of the recent terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
CPI General Secretary D. Raja, a key petitioner challenging the amendment in the Supreme Court, condemned the Act as 'unconstitutional and anti-minority'.
'Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was pressured to make India a theocratic state, but he stood firm on secularism. Today, that secularism is under grave threat. This Act violates the fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution. Under the current regime, India faces a critical period. To save India and the Constitution, we must remove this BJP government lead by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,' he said.
CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat described the amendment as the first step toward large-scale land dispossession, not only of Muslims but also of farmers, Adivasis, and the poor. 'The government's move is not just about Waqf properties. It is a conspiracy to strip land from millions, like Adivasis, who don't have proper titles. If Waqf lands can be questioned for lacking 3,000-year-old records, what hope is left for the landless poor? We all need to stand united to oppose the Union Government's designs,' she said while demanding immediate repeal of the Act, calling it a violation of Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution.
The gathering stood in silence for two minutes to honour victims of a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, the audience stood in silence when the national anthem was played.
The event was presided over by Hafiz Syed Muhammad Ali Al Hussaini, Sajjada Nashin of Dargah Hazrat Khwaja Bandanawaz and Chairman of the Karnataka State Waqf Board.
Among the prominent leaders who participated were Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, Rajya Sabha Member Syed Naseer Hussain, and Kalaburagi North MLA Kaneez Fatima.
Also present were Maulana Abu Talib Rahmani, member of the AIMPLB; Guru Mahant swamiji, head of the Chittaragi Sansthan Mutt in Ilkal; Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi, Vice-Principal of Jamia Nizamia and founder-director of the Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Centre; Mujtaba Farooq, National Vice-President of the Welfare Party of India; Gurmit Singh Saluja, a Sikh community leader; and Abdul Basith, National Secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League.
The gathering also saw the participation of Shantaveera Swami, Head of the Khasa Matha in Gurmitkal; Abdul Majeed, Karnataka State President of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI); Bhante Varajyoti Thero from the Anadoor Buddha Vihara in Bidar; and Mohammad Saad Belagami, Karnataka State President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.
Former Union Minister C.M. Ibrahim, former KUDA chairman Dr. Mohammad Asghar Chulbul, and the Sajjada Nashins of several dargahs were also in attendance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
27 minutes ago
- India.com
Big relief for Pakistan! This Muslim country lifts visa ban on Pakistani nationals after 19 years, opening massive job opportunities in oil, healthcare and…
Big relief for Pakistanis: This Muslim country lifts visa ban on Pakistan after 19 years, opening up many job opportunities in oil, healthcare and... After nearly 19 years, Kuwait has finally lifted the visa ban on citizens from Pakistan, bringing big relief to many who plans to work here for better opportunities. For a long time, Pakistanis were not allowed to apply for visas to Kuwait but now, this decision opens up many job opportunities for them, especially in Kuwait's healthcare, oil, and skilled labor sectors. This move is also expected to improve relations between the two countries. According to Gulf News, Kuwait is facing a shortage of skilled workers and has started hiring professionals from Pakistan. In fact, the first group of 1,200 nurses from Pakistan has already been sent. Now that Kuwait has restarted work, family, tourist, and business visas for Pakistanis, citizens in Pakistan can now apply for various visa types, including work, family visit, dependent, tourist, and commercial categories and it will therefore be easier for them to travel, find jobs, or join family members there. Kuwait-Pakistan ties set to improve Pakistan's Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr. Zafar Iqbal called this decision a major milestone in strengthening relations between the two countries. He said reopening visa services will not only meet Kuwait's demand for workers but also benefit thousands of families in Pakistan. With the ban lifted, many new job opportunities have opened up for skilled Pakistani workers in Kuwait. This move could also lead to stronger economic cooperation between the two nations. Pakistani businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors will now have better access to Kuwaiti markets. Experts believe this step goes beyond the economy as it also helps connect people from both sides. Kuwait and Pakistan are currently discussing a new labor agreement (MoU). The aim is to ensure fair and safe working conditions for Pakistani workers in Kuwait. This agreement will offer a better structure for labor migration and is expected to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Calcutta HC questions Bengal govt over monetary support to sacked non-teaching staff
The Calcutta High Court on Monday reserved its judgment on a petition challenging the West Bengal government's decision to provide monetary relief to Group C and D employees whose jobs were terminated by the Supreme Court in April this year. Before reserving its order, the single bench of Justice Amrita Sinha posed some pointed questions to the state government. Questioning the decision of giving monthly `25,000 and `20,000 monthly allowance to the sacked Group C and D staff, Justice Amrita Sinha said: '…How was the amount decided… Will they get money sitting at home? For how long will they be paid?' On being informed by Advocate General Kishore Dutta that the money is being disbursed from April 1, Justice Sinha asked why the State government was in such a hurry to give allowance. 'Right now, the money should not be disbursed. There are some protocols that are to be followed,' Justice Sinha added. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, appearing for petitioners — two waitlist candidates Prakash Mandal and Jhantu Kumar Bera — argued that monetary allowances cannot be given to the sacked Group C and D staffers as their recruitment was termed illegal by the Supreme Court. To this, Advocate General Dutta, representing the state government, questioned the locus standi of the petitioners and said they should approach the Supreme Court since they claim that the scheme in question violates the order of the apex court. 'We should see who have filed these petitions… those on the waiting list. This is not a Public Interest Litigation. Those on the waiting list cannot have any grievance on this matter. Plus, the state government has the authority to take such decisions. This power is given to the State by the Constitution. And the allowance that is being given purely on humanitarian grounds,' Dutta argued. Justice Sinha then remarked: 'The state will provide allowances month after month to run their families, but they will not work?.. It is clear that these individuals will sit at home and get money. Does the state have any scheme for those who are deprived or are sitting on the road, or are unemployed?' The Advocate General said the scheme was 'temporary in nature', and would come to an end once the apex court takes a final decision on the review petitions of the state government.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
4 ‘illegal' mazars demolished in forest area in Bahraich district
The state forest department, in an operation with the Bahraich district administration and the district police, demolished four old mazars (shrines) located in the Murthia Range of the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, citing 'illegal construction on forest land.' Forest department officers said that the shrines were situated within a protected area and classified them as 'encroachments'. Among the four demolished shrines was the Dargah of Hazrat Sayyed Mohammad Hashim Ali Shah, also known as Lakkad Shah Baba, where fairs had been regularly organised in the past. Recently, the forest department denied permission for the fair there, following which the shrine management committee raised an objection. Forest officers said that permission was denied because the proposed fair site falls within the core area of the forest, where public access is 'strictly prohibited'. The other three shrines — Bhavar Shah, Chaman Shah, and Shahenshah — which were demolished were located in the range of around half-a-kilometre. The demolition began on Sunday night and continued until Monday morning. On Sunday night, a large-scale operation was launched by the forest department with support from the local police and administration. Heavy police presence, including personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary, was deployed at the site. Public access was restricted, and bulldozers were used to demolish all four shrines. Forest officers said that access to the area was limited due to the risk of wildlife attacks. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, B Shivshankar said the forest court had declared the structures as 'encroachments on forest land'. Forest staff, Special Tiger Protection Force, local police, and Provincial Armed Constabulary have been deployed at the site, he said. Asked why mediapersons were kept off the site, Shivshankar said, 'The area falls in a jungle zone where the presence of wild animals could lead to human-wildlife conflict, hence access was restricted.' District Magistrate Monika Rani, however, directed that mediapersons may be allowed limited access to the site under the forest officials' supervision. According to the forest department, in response to the notice issued by the forest department, the shrine committee objected and submitted documents claiming the land was Waqf property. To support their claim, the shrine committee presented documents showing that the land was registered with the Waqf Board in 1986. However, forest department officials claimed that the committee failed to provide any proof of ownership prior to 1986, while the Indian Forest Act predates that registration. The DFO said the construction was determined to be an encroachment on forest land. An eviction order was issued on June 5 and when the encroachment was not removed voluntarily, a demolition drive was carried out last night. Secretary of the shrine committee, Esrar Ahmed, claimed that the Lakkad Shah Baba shrine was nearly 1,000 years old and that gatherings were held every Friday, along with a Basant Panchami fair attended by people from across the district and beyond. He added that the committee received a notice from the Forest Tribunal on April 30, declaring the land on which the shrines stood as 'forest land' and terming the structures as 'encroachments'.
