Guwahati, April 8: Five prominent Muslim organizations in Assam — the Muslim Students Union of Assam (MSUA), North East Minority Students Union (NEMSU), Muslim Jatiya Parishad (MJP), Religious Minority Council (RMC), and All BTR Minority Students Union (ABMSU) — staged a major protest on Monday against the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
Holding a sit-in demonstration at the Sachal Designated Dharna Ground in Guwahati, hundreds of supporters condemned the BJP-led government’s move, calling it a direct attack on the religious autonomy and constitutional rights of India’s Muslim community.
MSUA president Jalal Uddin warned that if the government fails to repeal the law, a nationwide agitation involving Muslim communities across the country will follow. “We are ready to take this movement to every corner of India. This is not just about religious rights — it’s about our constitutional freedoms,” he said. He further stated that the organization is prepared to challenge the law in court.
NEMSU president Badarul Islam echoed this sentiment and said, “Waqf property belongs to the Muslim community. Involving non-Muslims in its governance undermines our religious independence.”
During the protest, the five organizations submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to use her constitutional authority to reconsider and repeal the legislation. The memorandum laid out a detailed critique of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which protesters claim compromises both the spiritual and socio-economic foundations of Muslim institutions.
The Act mandates the appointment of non-Muslim members to Central and State Waqf Boards. The memorandum argues this violates Article 26 of the Constitution, which guarantees religious communities the right to manage their own affairs. Protesters claim there is no similar requirement for non-Hindus or non-Sikhs in temple or gurdwara management, calling the move discriminatory.
The legislation removes recognition of Waqf properties that have been in community use for generations without formal documentation. Many rural mosques, graveyards, and dargahs in Assam fall into this category. Protesters fear the new rules could strip these places of their Waqf status, leaving them vulnerable to government appropriation.
The Bill transfers key decision-making from Waqf Boards and Tribunals to government collectors, raising fears of administrative overreach. The removal of the finality of tribunal decisions could open the door to lengthy disputes and biased interventions, especially in regions like Assam where land conflicts are already sensitive.
Protesters also criticized the legislative process itself. They claim the Act was passed without engaging Muslim organizations or scholars, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). This lack of consultation, they argue, contradicts democratic norms and disregards the voices of those most affected.
Waqf properties in Assam support schools, orphanages, and community welfare. Protesters fear that weakening Waqf Board authority could destabilize these services, widen education gaps, and increase poverty among Muslim youth.
The organizations warned that the Act could fracture Assam’s traditionally peaceful coexistence among communities. “Selective legislation targeting Muslim institutions fosters a perception of bias and erodes the secular ethos of our Constitution,” the memorandum stated.
The memorandum concluded with a strong appeal, “We urge you to protect Waqf lands from encroachment and ensure their use for education, healthcare, and community welfare. We also ask for the immediate repeal of this Act and the initiation of a new, inclusive legislative process.”
The protest marks one of the most vocal regional responses to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. As tensions rise over the future of Waqf governance, Muslim groups in Assam have signalled their readiness to escalate the fight for what they say is a matter of faith, justice, and constitutional integrity.
