Hyderabad: Students at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) staged a protest in response to a call from the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, opposing the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Act. The demonstration, which involved various student bodies, criticized the legislation as an undue interference in the functioning of Muslim religious and charitable institutions.

According to Kashmir Media Service, participants expressed concerns that the amendment compromises the autonomy of Waqf institutions, allowing state control under the guise of reform. Protesters argued that this is part of a broader pattern where Muslim organizations undergo increased scrutiny, unlike similar entities from other communities.

Shaikh Mudassir, a PhD scholar and president of the student union at MANUU, condemned the amendment, describing it as “a state-backed attack on the Muslim community’s religious and charitable establishments.”

In a related development, police in Uttar Pradesh have intensified measures against demonstrators opposing the Waqf Amendment Act. Authorities have issued fines and placed activists under house arrest, sparking concerns over the right to free expression and peaceful protest.

In Lucknow, a woman protester known for leading anti-CAA and NRC demonstrations received a notice demanding Rs 10 lakh. She has been summoned to appear before the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Qaiser Bagh.

Similarly, 24 imams and muezzins in Muzaffarnagar and Noida have been served notices for wearing black armbands during peaceful protests. This symbolic action was in response to an appeal by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.