Protests erupted in Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad after the Friday weekly prayers as thousands of Muslims gathered against the Waqf Amendment Bill passed by the Parliament.&nbsp; A large crowd gathered in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, waving the tricolour and carrying posters saying, &ldquo;We reject Waqf amendment&rdquo; and &ldquo;Reject Waqf Bill&rdquo;. Many of these protests were organised by the Joint Forum for Waqf Protection, reported news agency ANI.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | West Bengal: Members of the Muslim community take to the streets in Kolkata to protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill. <a href="https://t.co/pKZrIVAYlz">pic.twitter.com/pKZrIVAYlz</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1908101431745216823?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
The protests in Ahmedabad resulted in action by authorities, as police tried to forcibly remove demonstrators squatting on the road. In Chennai, actor Vijay&rsquo;s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam announced a statewide protest on the issue. The party&rsquo;s workers gathered in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Tiruchirappalli and raised slogans like &ldquo;Reject the Waqf Bill&rdquo; and &ldquo;Do not take away Muslims&rsquo; rights&rdquo;. The Tamil actor-politician called the Waqf Bill &ldquo;anti-democratic&rdquo; and said its passage raises questions on India&rsquo;s secular foundation. The protests in Bengal will raise political heat as the state assembly elections are due next year. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of trying to divide the country and said the bill would be repealed when a non-BJP government forms the central government.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Ahmedabad: Various Muslim organisations hold protests against the Waqf Amendment Bill. <a href="https://t.co/viavsuqf3D">pic.twitter.com/viavsuqf3D</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1908094403614306575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
There are fears the new Waqf laws will be applied retrospectively, thereby affecting existing properties, even though Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told Parliament that it is prospective in nature. Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jklf-chief-yasin-malik-facing-trial-in-terror-cases-tells-sc-i-am-a-political-leader-not-a-terrorist-who-is-he-8925990">JKLF chief Yasin Malik, facing trial in terror cases, tells SC, &lsquo;I am a political leader, not a terrorist&rsquo;. Who is he?</a> The changes to the Waqf laws were cleared by Parliament after nearly 20 hours of fiery speeches. While the opposition MPs called it &ldquo;anti-Muslim&rdquo; those on treasury benches hailed it as &ldquo;historic reform&rdquo;. The Waqf Amendment Bill was cleared in the Lok Sabha by 288 votes to 232, and then in the Rajya Sabha by 128-95 and now just needs President Droupadi Murmu&rsquo;s assent to become law.&nbsp;
The revised Waqf laws mandate the nomination of two non-Muslim members to the central and state Waqf bodies, besides requiring that individuals making donations certify themselves as &lsquo;practicing Muslims&rsquo; for at least five years previously. Many concerns were raised by the opposition, including fears that the centre will take over the Waqf boards, but they were refuted by Rijiju.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/seven-indian-states-are-landlocked-yunus-invites-china-to-expand-calls-bangladesh-only-guardian-of-ocean-8911289" rel="noopener" target="_blank">'Seven Indian states are landlocked': Yunus invites China to expand, calls Bangladesh 'only guardian of ocean'</a>
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi called it a &ldquo;brazen assault&rdquo; on the Constitution and accused the BJP of seeking to keep society in a state of &ldquo;permanent polarisation&rdquo;.&nbsp; She also said that the bill had been &lsquo;bulldozed&rsquo; through the Rajya Sabha, leading to a call of an apology from her by the BJP.
Reacting in a press conference on Friday, Rijiju said that the Rajya Sabha debated the Waqf Bill for a record 17 hours and two minutes, while in Lok Sabha, the debate ran for over 12 hours.
<h2>Owaisi targets Naidu, Nitish</h2>
AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that the Wakf (Amendment) Bill is an assault on Muslims who will never forgive BJP allies TDP&rsquo;s N Chandrababu Naidu and JD-U&rsquo;s Nitish Kumar for allowing the Narendra Modi government to attack shariat.
The Bill would not have been tabled if the BJP allies had opposed it, he said.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nepal-making-a-u-turn-ex-maoist-guerrilla-leads-fight-for-return-of-monarchy-hindu-nation-8911280" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Nepal making a U-turn? Ex-Maoist guerrilla leads fight for return of monarchy, Hindu nation</a> &ldquo;How can non-Muslims become members of the Waqf Board, as proposed in the Bill, when only Hindus and Sikhs can be members of temple and gurdwara boards, respectively? PM Modi is firing bullets at our chest through the Waqf Bill targeting our mosques and dargahs. You (Centre) intend to take away the properties of Muslims. This is part of the Hindutva agenda to prevent us from following our Shariat and our religion,&rdquo; Asaduddin Owaisi said. (With inputs from agencies)

India News: There are fears the new Waqf laws will be applied retrospectively, thereby affecting existing properties, even though Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told Parliament that it is prospective in nature.

Protests erupted in Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad after the Friday weekly prayers as thousands of Muslims gathered against the Waqf Amendment Bill passed by the Parliament. A large crowd gathered in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, waving the tricolour and carrying posters saying, “We reject Waqf amendment” and “Reject Waqf Bill”. Many of these protests were organised by the Joint Forum for Waqf Protection, reported news agency ANI. #WATCH | West Bengal: Members of the Muslim community take to the streets in Kolkata to protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill. pic.twitter.com/pKZrIVAYlz — ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2025 The protests in Ahmedabad resulted in action by authorities, as police tried to forcibly remove demonstrators squatting on the road. In Chennai, actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam announced a statewide protest on the issue. The party’s workers gathered in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Tiruchirappalli and raised slogans like “Reject the Waqf Bill” and “Do not take away Muslims’ rights”. The Tamil actor-politician called the Waqf Bill “anti-democratic” and said its passage raises questions on India’s secular foundation. The protests in Bengal will raise political heat as the state assembly elections are due next year. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of trying to divide the country and said the bill would be repealed when a non-BJP government forms the central government. #WATCH | Ahmedabad: Various Muslim organisations hold protests against the Waqf Amendment Bill. pic.twitter.com/viavsuqf3D — ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2025 There are fears the new Waqf laws will be applied retrospectively, thereby affecting existing properties, even though Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told Parliament that it is prospective in nature. Also Read | JKLF chief Yasin Malik, facing trial in terror cases, tells SC, ‘I am a political leader, not a terrorist’. Who is he? The changes to the Waqf laws were cleared by Parliament after nearly 20 hours of fiery speeches. While the opposition MPs called it “anti-Muslim” those on treasury benches hailed it as “historic reform”. The Waqf Amendment Bill was cleared in the Lok Sabha by 288 votes to 232, and then in the Rajya Sabha by 128-95 and now just needs President Droupadi Murmu’s assent to become law. The revised Waqf laws mandate the nomination of two non-Muslim members to the central and state Waqf bodies, besides requiring that individuals making donations certify themselves as ‘practicing Muslims’ for at least five years previously. Many concerns were raised by the opposition, including fears that the centre will take over the Waqf boards, but they were refuted by Rijiju. Also read | 'Seven Indian states are landlocked': Yunus invites China to expand, calls Bangladesh 'only guardian of ocean' Congress MP Sonia Gandhi called it a “brazen assault” on the Constitution and accused the BJP of seeking to keep society in a state of “permanent polarisation”. She also said that the bill had been ‘bulldozed’ through the Rajya Sabha, leading to a call of an apology from her by the BJP. Reacting in a press conference on Friday, Rijiju said that the Rajya Sabha debated the Waqf Bill for a record 17 hours and two minutes, while in Lok Sabha, the debate ran for over 12 hours. Owaisi targets Naidu, Nitish AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that the Wakf (Amendment) Bill is an assault on Muslims who will never forgive BJP allies TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu and JD-U’s Nitish Kumar for allowing the Narendra Modi government to attack shariat. The Bill would not have been tabled if the BJP allies had opposed it, he said. Also Read | Nepal making a U-turn? Ex-Maoist guerrilla leads fight for return of monarchy, Hindu nation “How can non-Muslims become members of the Waqf Board, as proposed in the Bill, when only Hindus and Sikhs can be members of temple and gurdwara boards, respectively? PM Modi is firing bullets at our chest through the Waqf Bill targeting our mosques and dargahs. You (Centre) intend to take away the properties of Muslims. This is part of the Hindutva agenda to prevent us from following our Shariat and our religion,” Asaduddin Owaisi said. (With inputs from agencies)

Protests erupt in Kolkata, Chennai after parliament clears Waqf Bill; Owaisi slams Naidu, Nitish

ANI | AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday warned the government against tabling the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in its current form, saying that it would lead to social instability in the country.
Mr Owaisi said that the Bill has been rejected by the entire Muslim community.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-centre-to-introduce-16-bills-including-waqf-amendment-act-during-budget-session-8676528">India: Centre to introduce 16 bills including Waqf Amendment Act during Budget session</a>
"I am cautioning and warning this government - if you bring and make a Waqf law in the present form, which will be a violation of Article 25, 26 and 14, it will lead to social instability in this country. It has been rejected by the entire Muslim community. No Waqf property will be left, nothing will be left," the AIMIM chief said during his address in the Lok Sabha.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jpc-adopts-amended-waqf-bill-as-opposition-slams-its-provisions-as-unconstitutional-8664059">JPC adopts amended Waqf Bill as Opposition slams its provisions as 'unconstitutional'</a>
"You want to make India 'Viksit Bharat', we want 'Viksit Bharat'. You want to take this country back to the '80s and early '90s, it will be your responsibility," he added.
He further said, "As a proud Indian Muslim, I will not lose an inch of my Masjid...I will not lose an inch of my Dargah. I will not allow that. We will no more come and give a diplomatic talk over here. This is the House where I have to stand and speak honestly, that my community - we are proud Indians.&nbsp;It is my property, not given by anyone. You cannot snatch it away from me. Waqf is a form of worship for me."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ttd-chief-says-waqf-board-real-estate-firm-owaisis-comparison-with-tirumala-wrong-773204">TTD chief says 'Waqf board real estate firm', Owaisi's comparison with 'Tirumala' wrong</a>
Earlier in the day, opposition MPs Kalyan Banerjee (Lok Sabha) and Md. Nadimul Haque (Rajya Sabha) strongly protested the removal of key portions from their dissent notes submitted to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the MPs alleged that their objections were arbitrarily deleted without prior notice or explanation.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/video-claims-indian-opposition-leader-rahul-gandhi-fell-asleep-in-parliament-during-waqf-discussion-748964">Video claims Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi fell asleep in Parliament during Waqf bill discussion</a>
"To our dismay and utter surprise, we found that the following objectives and dissent notes have been deleted by the Chairman without informing us and without our consent," the MPs wrote in their letter dated February 3, 2025.
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Disclaimer: This story has been published from ANI feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.
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India News | "You want to make India 'Viksit Bharat', we want 'Viksit Bharat'. You want to take this country back to the '80s and early '90s, it will be your responsibility," Owaisi added.

ANI | AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday warned the government against tabling the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in its current form, saying that it would lead to social instability in the country. Mr Owaisi said that the Bill has been rejected by the entire Muslim community. Also read: India: Centre to introduce 16 bills including Waqf Amendment Act during Budget session "I am cautioning and warning this government - if you bring and make a Waqf law in the present form, which will be a violation of Article 25, 26 and 14, it will lead to social instability in this country. It has been rejected by the entire Muslim community. No Waqf property will be left, nothing will be left," the AIMIM chief said during his address in the Lok Sabha. Also read: JPC adopts amended Waqf Bill as Opposition slams its provisions as 'unconstitutional' "You want to make India 'Viksit Bharat', we want 'Viksit Bharat'. You want to take this country back to the '80s and early '90s, it will be your responsibility," he added. He further said, "As a proud Indian Muslim, I will not lose an inch of my Masjid...I will not lose an inch of my Dargah. I will not allow that. We will no more come and give a diplomatic talk over here. This is the House where I have to stand and speak honestly, that my community - we are proud Indians. It is my property, not given by anyone. You cannot snatch it away from me. Waqf is a form of worship for me." Also read: TTD chief says 'Waqf board real estate firm', Owaisi's comparison with 'Tirumala' wrong Earlier in the day, opposition MPs Kalyan Banerjee (Lok Sabha) and Md. Nadimul Haque (Rajya Sabha) strongly protested the removal of key portions from their dissent notes submitted to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the MPs alleged that their objections were arbitrarily deleted without prior notice or explanation. Also read: Video claims Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi fell asleep in Parliament during Waqf bill discussion "To our dismay and utter surprise, we found that the following objectives and dissent notes have been deleted by the Chairman without informing us and without our consent," the MPs wrote in their letter dated February 3, 2025. Disclaimer: This story has been published from ANI feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'If you bring and make a Waqf law...': Asaduddin Owaisi's 'warning' to Centre

In the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Hyderabad-based political party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen lost deposits in most of the 100 seats it ran for.

Though it received more votes than it did in 2017, the Asaduddin Owaisi-led party has failed miserably to deliver in the manner it promised, particularly in Muslim-majority areas, and has not won a single seat in the state.&nbsp;

According to poll trends released on Thursday, the majority of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen's candidates failed to reach the 5,000-vote threshold in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

According to the Election Commission website, the Asaddudin Owaisi-led party received about 0.43 percent of the total votes cast across the state's 403 assembly seats.&nbsp;

AIMIM candidates Qamar Kamal in Azamgarh got 1,368 votes, Umair Madni in Deoband got 3,145 votes, Abhayraj in Jaunpur got 1,340 votes, Moinuddin in Kanpur Cantt got 754 votes, Salman in Lucknow Central got 463 votes, Rashid in Moradabad got 1,266 votes, Mohid Fargani got 1,771 votes from Moradabad Rural, and Imran Ahmed in Meerut got 2,405 votes, the website showed at 4 pm.

Among other party candidates, Abdur Rahman Ansari got 2,116 votes in Nizamabad, Mohd Intezar got 2,642 votes in Muzaffarnagar, Mohd Rafique got 1,363 votes in Sandila, Irfan got 4,886 votes in Tanda, Yor Mohammed got 571 votes in Sirathu, and Rashid Jameel got 1,747 votes in Bahraich, it showed.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) claimed to have filed candidates in 100 seats in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, with a concentration on Muslim-majority constituencies.

Owaisi's party ran for 38 seats in the 2017 assembly elections, with 37 of its candidates forfeiting their deposits.&nbsp;

What is the Forfeiture of Security Deposit in Indian Elections?

The cash placed by a candidate is seized by the Election Commission of India if he or she does not receive 1/6 of the total valid votes franchised in that seat.

General candidates must deposit a security of Rs.25,000 in the case of a Parliamentary seat and Rs.10,000 in the case of an Assembly constituency, according to Section 34, 1 (a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Hyderabad-based political party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen lost deposits in most of the 100 seats it ran for.

In the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Hyderabad-based political party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen lost deposits in most of the 100 seats it ran for. Though it received more votes than it did in 2017, the Asaduddin Owaisi-led party has failed miserably to deliver in the manner it promised, particularly in Muslim-majority areas, and has not won a single seat in the state. According to poll trends released on Thursday, the majority of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen's candidates failed to reach the 5,000-vote threshold in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. According to the Election Commission website, the Asaddudin Owaisi-led party received about 0.43 percent of the total votes cast across the state's 403 assembly seats. AIMIM candidates Qamar Kamal in Azamgarh got 1,368 votes, Umair Madni in Deoband got 3,145 votes, Abhayraj in Jaunpur got 1,340 votes, Moinuddin in Kanpur Cantt got 754 votes, Salman in Lucknow Central got 463 votes, Rashid in Moradabad got 1,266 votes, Mohid Fargani got 1,771 votes from Moradabad Rural, and Imran Ahmed in Meerut got 2,405 votes, the website showed at 4 pm. Among other party candidates, Abdur Rahman Ansari got 2,116 votes in Nizamabad, Mohd Intezar got 2,642 votes in Muzaffarnagar, Mohd Rafique got 1,363 votes in Sandila, Irfan got 4,886 votes in Tanda, Yor Mohammed got 571 votes in Sirathu, and Rashid Jameel got 1,747 votes in Bahraich, it showed. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) claimed to have filed candidates in 100 seats in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, with a concentration on Muslim-majority constituencies. Owaisi's party ran for 38 seats in the 2017 assembly elections, with 37 of its candidates forfeiting their deposits. What is the Forfeiture of Security Deposit in Indian Elections? The cash placed by a candidate is seized by the Election Commission of India if he or she does not receive 1/6 of the total valid votes franchised in that seat. General candidates must deposit a security of Rs.25,000 in the case of a Parliamentary seat and Rs.10,000 in the case of an Assembly constituency, according to Section 34, 1 (a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. (With inputs from agencies)

Uttar Pradesh Election Results 2022: Asaddudin Owaisi's AIMIM loses badly in UP elections, gets  0.43% votes

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that he will meet TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao again tomorrow.&nbsp;

While speaking to the reporters, Owaisi noted that he wants all 8 candidates from his party to win and KCR to become Telangana's chief minister.&nbsp;

"I’ll meet him (K Chandrashekhar Rao) again tomorrow, I want all my 8 candidates to win and we want KCR to become Chief Minister of Telangana," he said.&nbsp;

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AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi: I’ll meet him (K Chandrashekhar Rao) again tomorrow, I want all my 8 candidates to win and we want KCR to become Chief Minister of Telangana <a href="https://t.co/LgVj5Wmuqk">pic.twitter.com/LgVj5Wmuqk</a>
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/trs-will-form-govt-in-telangana-on-its-own-asaduddin-owaisi-182779">On Sunday, Owaisi had said</a> that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is going to form the government in the state with a clear majority.

Speaking to ANI, Owaisi said: "The TRS is going to form the government in Telangana on their own strength; all the speculations which are being raised are baseless. We should wait for the result. I don't want to comment on the Congress welcoming the AIMIM to Praja Kutami."

Nearly all the exit polls have predicted incumbent caretaker Chief Minister Rao-led TRS retaining another term with a clear majority.&nbsp;

The counting of votes in five poll-bound states, including Telangana, will take place on December 11.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that he will meet TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao again tomorrow. While speaking to the reporters, Owaisi noted that he wants all 8 candidates from his party to win and KCR to become Telangana's chief minister.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that he will meet TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao again tomorrow. While speaking to the reporters, Owaisi noted that he wants all 8 candidates from his party to win and KCR to become Telangana's chief minister. "I’ll meet him (K Chandrashekhar Rao) again tomorrow, I want all my 8 candidates to win and we want KCR to become Chief Minister of Telangana," he said. AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi: I’ll meet him (K Chandrashekhar Rao) again tomorrow, I want all my 8 candidates to win and we want KCR to become Chief Minister of Telangana pic.twitter.com/LgVj5Wmuqk — ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2018 × On Sunday, Owaisi had said that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is going to form the government in the state with a clear majority. Speaking to ANI, Owaisi said: "The TRS is going to form the government in Telangana on their own strength; all the speculations which are being raised are baseless. We should wait for the result. I don't want to comment on the Congress welcoming the AIMIM to Praja Kutami." Nearly all the exit polls have predicted incumbent caretaker Chief Minister Rao-led TRS retaining another term with a clear majority. The counting of votes in five poll-bound states, including Telangana, will take place on December 11.

Want all my candidates to win, KCR to become Telangana's chief minister: Owaisi