Silent Lights Off Protest against Waqf Amendment Act 2025
Ranchi: In response to the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 passed by the central government, a nationwide peaceful protest was observed on the night of Wednesday, April 30, 2025, following a call by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. As part of the “Lights Off” campaign, members of the Muslim community switched off the lights of their homes, shops, institutions, and establishments from 9:00 to 9:15 p.m. to express their dissent and concern. Alongside districts across Jharkhand, the people of Irba (Ranchi) also participated with notable awareness and active involvement. Families in Irba, including children, joined the protest by turning off lights, thereby making their stand visible. This scene reflected the deep concern among the general public, families, and even the younger generation regarding the Waqf Act.
On this occasion, S. Ali, National President of the AMYA organization, stated that the Act is not just an attack on Waqf properties but a direct blow to the autonomy, self-determination, and religious freedom of minorities. What the government is calling a reform, he said, is in reality an erosion of rights and a violation of established judicial principles. He further added that Article 26 of the Constitution grants every religious denomination the right to manage and maintain its own properties, but the new law seeks to restrict that right. By giving the government the power to appoint members to the Waqf Boards rather than allowing elections, the Act undermines institutional autonomy. Moreover, by incorporating the Limitation Act, the government appears to be legitimizing encroachments by giving unauthorized occupants ownership rights. The removal of provisions like “Waqf by user” and Section 40 also threatens the existence of religious sites that are traditionally or orally established. S. Ali urged the central government to immediately withdraw the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 and reconsider its implications.
