Lucknow: As protests grow across India against the controversial Waqf Amendment Act 2025, BJP has intensified its outreach campaign in Uttar Pradesh, aiming to project the legislation as a reform measure and dispel rising concerns within minority communities, reported the Hindustan Times.
Under the banner of Waqf Sudhar Janjagran Abhiyan, the BJP is conducting district-level meetings, distributing literature, and holding dialogues to promote the party’s stance. However, community leaders and critics argue that this campaign is a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the widespread discontent among Muslims who see the amendment as a threat to their religious and community properties.
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, is slated to lead a high-profile outreach event in Lucknow on May 9. He will engage with representatives from Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, and Jain communities as part of the party’s efforts to manage growing unrest.
The campaign, which began on April 20, is being led by the BJP Minority Morcha along with the Mahila Morcha and Yuva Morcha. Kunwar Basit Ali, state president of the Minority Morcha, said the campaign has already covered over 30 districts. “Every district will see focused engagement where ministers and local leaders interact with people to explain the benefits of the Act,” he stated.
Despite these efforts, Muslim leaders allege that the BJP is trying to fool and mislead innocent members of the community, presenting the law as a reform while ignoring the deep-rooted fears it has sparked. While Muslims are protesting to protect their mosques, madrasas, graveyards, and community properties from what they see as state encroachment, the BJP is accused of using propaganda to justify the bill and dilute opposition.
The next leg of the campaign, Alpsankhyak Prabuddh Samvad, will be spearheaded by BJP MLAs and MPs. In non-BJP constituencies, former candidates will take charge. Special efforts are being made to reach women and youth, with the Mahila Morcha assigned to mobilize at least 100 women in each assembly segment, and the Yuva Morcha engaging madrasa teachers, students, and professionals.
Posters, booklets, and pamphlets featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have been widely distributed. These materials include claims from a 2018 Central Waqf Council report stating that Waqf properties cover over eight lakh acres and are worth nearly ₹10 lakh crore. They also accuse previous Congress-led Waqf boards of corruption, particularly in Karnataka, with photos of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge prominently displayed.
The BJP is also tapping into digital influence by involving social media personalities, professionals, and religious figures to amplify its message. Minister Rijiju is expected to hold a press briefing after his meetings in Lucknow.
While the BJP insists the amendment ensures transparency and better governance of Waqf assets, opposition parties, activists, and Waqf stakeholders argue that the move undermines constitutional protections and is aimed at weakening Muslim institutional autonomy.
