A correspondent
TANGLA: The North-East Minorities Students’ Union (NEMSU) has strongly opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025, calling it an attack on the fundamental rights of Muslims. Hundreds of NEMSU activists staged a protest at New Bazar, near the Assam-Arunachal border in Orang, Udalguri district, on Friday.
Vehemently opposing the bill’s provisions, the organization asserted that it would not accept the bill under any circumstances and is considering challenging it in the Supreme Court. Protesters, wearing black clothes over their faces and holding placards, marched through the streets, raising slogans condemning the bill and rejecting state intervention in Waqf affairs. The demonstration reflected the growing resentment against the government’s move to amend Waqf-related laws.
Speaking on the occasion, NEMSU Central President Badrul Islam said, “This bill is an assault on our religious rights and heritage. We will challenge it legally and politically.” He further announced that on April 8, thousands of NEMSU members will gather at Chachal in Guwahati for a massive protest against the bill. The Waqf Amendment Bill 2025, recently passed in Parliament, has triggered nationwide protests. Critics argue that the amendments undermine the autonomy of Waqf properties and strip the Muslim community of its legal rights over religious endowments.
Key provisions of the bill include reducing the mandatory contribution of Waqf institutions to Waqf boards from 7% to 5% and mandating state-appointed auditors for institutions earning above Rs 1 lakh. Additionally, it proposes a centralized portal for managing Waqf properties to improve transparency. A major provision ensures that women receive their inheritance before any Waqf declarations, offering protections for widows, divorced women, and orphans. The bill also restores pre-2013 rules, allowing Muslims who have been practicing their faith for at least five years to dedicate property to Waqf.
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