The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has called for a peaceful protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 by urging Muslims across the country to wear black armbands on Jumatul Vida (Alvida Jumma), the last Friday of Ramzan. The board believes that the bill poses a serious threat to Muslim religious and charitable institutions and has termed it a “sinister conspiracy.” The protest is intended to be a silent yet powerful expression of dissent.
In a letter shared on social media platform X, the AIMPLB highlighted ongoing demonstrations against the bill, including protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and Dharna Sthal in Patna. The board noted that these protests have created pressure on BJP’s allies and that a large-scale protest is also scheduled in Vijayawada on March 29, 2025.
The AIMPLB’s letter expressed deep concerns over the potential impact of the Waqf Amendment Bill, stating that if passed, it could lead to the loss of hundreds of mosques, eidgahs, madrasas, graveyards, and charitable institutions. The board urged every Muslim in the country to strongly oppose the bill and participate in the silent protest by wearing black armbands while visiting mosques on Jumatul Vida.
“The All India Muslim Personal Law Board appeals to all Muslims to wear a black armband while coming to the mosque on Jumatul Vida as a silent and peaceful expression of grief and protest,” the letter stated.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Jagadambika Pal, chairman of the joint parliamentary committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill, defended the proposed amendments, asserting that they are in the country’s best interest and do not infringe on religious freedoms. He dismissed the allegations made by AIMPLB and other critics, emphasizing that the Waqf Board is a statutory body rather than a religious one.
Pal also accused AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi of misleading the public on the matter. “If this government is making amendments to the Waqf, then it is for good only. No religious freedom is being taken away… The Waqf Board is a statutory body, not a religious body,” he said in a statement to ANI.
The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 has sparked widespread debate, with opponents arguing that it threatens the autonomy of Waqf properties, while the government insists that the changes aim to streamline administration and ensure better governance. As tensions rise, the silent protest on Jumatul Vida is expected to be a significant demonstration of public sentiment against the bill.
