Imphal: More than four thousand individuals belonging to the Meitei Pangal community in Manipur staged a significant protest on Sunday, expressing their strong opposition to the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025.
The demonstration, a joint effort by the Islamic Students’ Association (ISA), the All Students’ Union of Sora (ASSU), and the Meitei Pangal Co-ordinating Committee Manipur (MPCM) Sora, commenced with a rally at Sora, situated in the Kakching district along National Highway 102.
Throughout the protest, participants vociferously chanted slogans denouncing the new legislation. Key slogans included demands to ‘revoke WAQF BILL 2025’ and assertions that ‘owner of WAQF is Allah, the custodian of WAQF is the Muslim Community.’
A minor confrontation briefly arose between the demonstrating crowd and personnel from the Irong Chesaba Police. Nevertheless, authorities have confirmed that no significant or harmful incidents transpired during the encounter.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 was recently approved by the upper house of the Indian parliament on Friday, subsequent to its passage in the lower house. This legislative development has triggered widespread discontent among Muslim communities throughout India, who are collectively calling for the act’s annulment due to apprehensions regarding its potential implications for the administration and independence of Waqf properties.