Nagpur : Several Muslim-majority neighborhoods in Nagpur witnessed a symbolic blackout on Wednesday night as residents switched off lights for 15 minutes at 9 p.m., responding to a call by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) to protest against the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, reported the Times of India.
Areas such as Mominpura, Lashkaribagh, and Ahbab Colony in Anant Nagar went dark during the protest, with photos and videos circulating widely on social media under the hashtag #BlackOutAgainstWaqfAmendment.
However, the mode of protest sparked debate within the community. Some Muslim intellectuals questioned the effectiveness of such symbolic gestures. Members of the Community for Social Research and Empowerment (CSRE) held discussions earlier in the day, expressing divergent views.
Hamid Qureshi, CSRE secretary, noted that the issue has moved into the legal domain. “It’s now law. Protests may inadvertently serve political narratives. The matter should be challenged in the Supreme Court,” he remarked.
Drawing parallels with the farm laws that were repealed after sustained protest, CSRE member Khwaja Sajid emphasized that even small actions can catalyze larger movements. “Sometimes, it only takes a trigger,” he said.
Mohd Ziya, another member, stressed the importance of “effective altruism” as a more impactful response. Meanwhile, senior counsel Firdos Mirza questioned the lights-off strategy and advised a broader approach to engage non-Muslim communities and highlight how the Waqf system contributes to both community development and national welfare.
