Hyderabad – Students of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) held a protest on Monday night against the recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, calling it “anti-Muslim” and “discriminatory.” The demonstration was organized on the university campus by a coalition of student groups, including the All University Students Federation (AUSF), Fraternity Movement, Students Islamic Organisation (SIO), and Girls Islamic Organisation (GIO), reported the Telangana Today.
Participants united in their condemnation of the law, asserting that the Act is part of a broader attempt by the government to undermine Muslim religious autonomy and heritage.
Shaikh Mudassir, a PhD scholar and SIO MANUU president, said, “By dismantling Waqf autonomy, the government is openly targeting Muslim heritage while sparing the religious institutions of other communities.” He argued that the Act represents a selective and biased approach to governance.
Umar Farooq Qadri, vice president of the Fraternity Movement, stated that the legislation violates Article 26 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to manage religious affairs. He described the move as a reflection of the ruling party’s “hypocritical narrative of Muslim welfare.”
MA student and GIO member Ayesha Anjum said the Act is a direct attack on religious freedom and an attempt to curtail minority rights. Swaleh Ansari, a PhD scholar and AUSF member, added that the law does not address core issues like corruption or encroachment but instead facilitates government control over Waqf assets.
Students vowed to continue raising their voices against what they view as an unjust and targeted policy.
