Hyderabad: Thousands of people participated in the Waqf Bachao march here Sunday, protesting against the Waqf Amendment Act and demanding its repeal.
Organised by Muslim leaders of the Congress party, the rally marked the largest demonstration in the city to date on this issue. The march began at Nizam College Grounds and concluded at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue at Tank Bund.
The event drew a diverse crowd, including women, youth, and students, with participants coming from across Hyderabad and nearby districts, transcending party lines. Members of the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) Telangana also joined the rally, marching alongside others while chanting slogans such as “We want justice,” “Inquilab Zindabad,” “Hindustan Zindabad,” and “Tanashahi Nahi Chalegi”.
Protesters carried national flags, black flags, banners, and placards bearing messages like “Save Waqf, Save Nation,” “We Reject Waqf Act,” “Our Waqf, Our Right,” and “Repeal Waqf Act.” Many also wore black T-shirts emblazoned with the message: “We Reject Waqf Act.”
The rally moved through key junctions, including Basheerbagh and Liberty before reaching Tank Bund. Police made extensive security arrangements, and the procession concluded peacefully.
Prominent Congress leaders, including MP Imran Masood, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, Telangana government advisor and former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir, and other Muslim leaders of the party, addressed the gathering. They condemned the Waqf Amendment Act as “unconstitutional” and accused the BJP-led NDA government of targeting the Muslim community by attempting to seize Waqf properties.
In a fiery speech, Imran Masood stated that if the Congress comes to power, it will revoke the Act without delay. “Where will you pray if there are no mosques? Where will you bury your dead if there are no graveyards?” he asked, urging the crowd to support Congress in the upcoming elections. “Pray that we return to power. I promise you, we will fix this in an hour.”
Comparing the Congress party to a strong ship capable of withstanding a storm, he said, “When the sea is rough, only a big ship can survive – not small boats. Leave the boats and board the ship. That’s the only way.”
Masood emphasised that Congress, despite having more than 400 MPs in the past, never used its majority to suppress citizens’ rights. Under its rule, he said, no one felt excluded from the nation.
He also stressed that the fight against the Waqf Act is not a Muslim issue alone. “When 232 MPs voted against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, they delivered a strong message against the forces spreading hatred,” he said.
Commenting on the violence reported in West Bengal during protests against the Act, Masood condemned any form of violence. He urged young people to refrain from unlawful actions and to follow the guidance of responsible organisations. “This is a fight to protect the Constitution. If you break the law, the purpose of this movement is lost,” he said.
Earlier, Masood addressed a meeting organised by All India Milli Council Telangana and All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), presided over by Moulana Khalid Saifullah Rehmani.
