– Mohammed Talha Siddi Bapa
Bhatkal: In a powerful display of dissent, thousands of residents from the coastal town of Bhatkal poured into the streets on Friday, raising a unified voice against the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. Responding to the nationwide call for protest issued by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), the Muslim community in Bhatkal staged a peaceful yet resolute demonstration after congregational prayers, marching from Juma mosques to the Taluk Administrative Office.
Organised under the leadership of Majlis-e-Islah-wa-Tanzeem, the town’s premier socio-religious organisation, the protest witnessed disciplined participation from all sections of the community. A memorandum addressed to the President of India and the Prime Minister was submitted through the Assistant Commissioner of the Bhatkal Sub-Division. Tahsildar Nagendra Kolashetti was present at the site to receive the petition.
The protesters voiced deep concerns over provisions in the new law that they claim dilutes the autonomy of Waqf institutions and opens the door for government overreach. Key points of contention include the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council, granting administrative powers to District Collectors over Waqf properties, and the removal of the “Waqf by user” clause – an omission that, according to community leaders, could lead to the nullification of historic mosques, graveyards, madrasas, orphanages and religious sites that have existed for generations.
Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Nadvi, convener of the Anti-Waqf Amendment Struggle Committee and member of AIMPLB, addressed the gathering, stating, “This protest is not merely about the Waqf Act – it is a larger struggle to safeguard the Indian Constitution and the rights it guarantees to religious minorities.”
Tanzeem President Inayatullah Shabandri added, “This is only the beginning. If the Act is not repealed, the movement will continue with greater momentum.” General Secretary Abdul Rakhieb M.J. reiterated that the agitation was neither political nor communal. “Our movement is aimed at protecting constitutional and religious rights,” he said.
Former MLA J.D. Naik, who also addressed the protest, expressed solidarity with the demonstrators and warned that the Act could damage the socio-religious fabric of the Muslim community.
Prominent personalities who participated included AIMPLB members Maulana Abdul Aleem Qasmi, Maulana Maqbool Kobbate, Dr. Atiqur Rahman Muniri, Qazi Abdur Rab Nadvi, Qazi Maulana Khaja Madani, Qazi Abdus Samad Muredeshwar, Maulana Abdul Aleem Khatib, Bhatkal Municipal President Mohideen Althaf Kharruri, Jali Town Panchayat Vice President Syed Imzran Lanka, and Maulana Azizur Rahman Nadvi Ruknuddin.
Bhatkal, known for its rich Islamic heritage and vibrant civil society, is home to a globally connected and culturally rooted Muslim population. From Quranic scholarship and higher educational institutions to international trade and community service, the town has long upheld a legacy of intellectual and social contributions. Friday’s protest reflected that same spirit – disciplined, principled, and peaceful.
As the nationwide agitation against the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 gains momentum, Bhatkal’s protest stands as a testament to the community’s resolve to resist what they view as a direct threat to their religious and constitutional freedoms.
