{"id":4067,"date":"2025-05-09T01:39:29","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T20:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=4067"},"modified":"2025-05-09T01:39:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T20:09:29","slug":"mysuru-rises-in-protest-thousands-rally-against-waqf-amendment-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=4067","title":{"rendered":"Mysuru Rises in Protest: Thousands Rally Against Waqf Amendment Act"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mysuru Rises in Protest: Thousands Rally Against Waqf Amendment Act<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Citizens Invoke Tipu Sultan and Ambedkar as Cross-Community Unity Marks Resistance<\/em><\/p>\n

Mysuru, May 3, 2025:<\/strong>
Over 25,000 people gathered at Eidgah Maidan in Mysuru on Saturday in a powerful protest against the Waqf Amendment Act 2025, a law widely criticized for threatening religious autonomy and violating constitutional rights. Organized under the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), the protest was part of a nationwide movement opposing the Act.<\/p>\n

The demonstration coincided with the eve of Tipu Sultan\u2019s martyrdom anniversary, invoking his legacy of resistance. Flags in saffron, white, and green waved alongside placards declaring \u201cWaqf Hamara Haq Hai\u201d and \u201cJai Bhim,\u201d symbolizing solidarity between Muslim and Dalit communities in defense of the Constitution.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not reform\u2014it\u2019s a constitutional assault disguised as streamlining,\u201d said Akbar Ali of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. \u201cThe government is not protecting Waqf lands; it is preparing to seize them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The protest began with a reading of the Preamble and a minute\u2019s silence for victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, grounding the demonstration in solemn national reflection.<\/p>\n

Political activist Dr. H.V. Vasu likened the protest to Shaheen Bagh, calling Mysuru \u201ca lighthouse of resistance.\u201d Farmer leader Badagalapura Nagendra warned, \u201cThis isn\u2019t just a Muslim issue. Like the farm laws, this Act erodes the rights of vulnerable communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dalit leader Bittayya Kote echoed this, stating, \u201cThe poison of division from the 1990s is back\u2014but this time, our resistance is stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the speakers were civil society leaders, scholars, and politicians, including former Mayor Arif Hussain, Congress spokesperson M. Lakshman, and SDPI president Abdul Majeed.<\/p>\n

The Waqf Amendment empowers district collectors to adjudicate Waqf property claims and removes the \u201cWaqf by use\u201d clause\u2014alarming many who fear loss of community-managed educational and welfare assets. Protesters argue the law violates Article 26, which guarantees religious groups the right to manage their institutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not the end\u2014it\u2019s the beginning,\u201d one speaker said. \u201cThe Constitution belongs to the people\u2014and we will defend it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd39 Statements<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

1. Akbar Ali (Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Karnataka):<\/strong>
\u201cThis Amendment is not about reform\u2014it\u2019s about control. It undermines our constitutional rights and aims to strip the Muslim community of its Waqf assets.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Dr. H.V. Vasu (Political Activist):<\/strong>
\u201cMysuru today echoes the spirit of Shaheen Bagh. The people are the Constitution\u2019s last line of defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Badagalapura Nagendra (Karnataka Farmers\u2019 Union):<\/strong>
\u201cIf they can grab Waqf lands today, they will target farmer lands tomorrow. This is a fight for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Bittayya Kote (Dalit Sangharsha Samiti):<\/strong>
\u201cThey used communal hate in the 1990s. Today, they\u2019re using law books. We won\u2019t fall for it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. Protest Organizer (AIMPLB):<\/strong>
\u201cThis isn\u2019t just a Muslim issue. It\u2019s a national emergency for India\u2019s democratic conscience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\ud83d\udd39 Quotes<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
    \n
  • \n

    \u201cWhen lies become law, resistance becomes duty.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    \u201cThe Preamble is not a slogan\u2014it\u2019s our promise to each other as Indians.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    \u201cTipu fought the British. We fight their inheritors in the disguise of democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    \u201cWaqf is for the people, not for profit.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    \u201cFirst they came for our lands, now they come for our rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \n

    \ud83d\udd39 Q&A (For interviews)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Q: Why are people protesting against the Waqf Amendment Act?<\/strong>
    A:<\/strong> Because it transfers the power over Waqf lands from community institutions to district collectors, violating Article 26 of the Constitution and threatening the autonomy of religious trusts.<\/p>\n

    Q: Is this just a Muslim community issue?<\/strong>
    A:<\/strong> No. Leaders from farmers\u2019 unions, Dalit movements, and civil society are also warning that this Act sets a dangerous precedent for state overreach into community-managed assets.<\/p>\n

    Q: Why Mysuru?<\/strong>
    A:<\/strong> Mysuru is symbolic\u2014it\u2019s the city of Tipu Sultan, a figure of resistance. Holding this protest on the eve of his martyrdom anniversary was a deliberate act to invoke his legacy.<\/p>\n

    Q: What do protesters want?<\/strong>
    A:<\/strong> Immediate repeal of the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 and protection of constitutional guarantees for all religious and minority communities.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n

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    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Mysuru Rises in Protest: Thousands Rally Against Waqf Amendment Act Citizens Invoke Tipu Sultan and Ambedkar as Cross-Community Unity Marks Resistance Mysuru, May 3, 2025:Over 25,000 people gathered at Eidgah Maidan in Mysuru on Saturday in a powerful protest against the Waqf Amendment Act 2025, a law widely criticized for threatening religious autonomy and violating […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66,96],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-karnataka","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4067","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4067"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4067\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4069,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4067\/revisions\/4069"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}