Assam: Won’t tolerate street protest against The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, says CM Himanta

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/SILCHAR: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that if anybody in the state opposes the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, he or she may move the Supreme Court of India. He, however, made it crystal clear that the state government will not tolerate any ruckus on the streets, and it deals with such issues with an iron fist.

The Chief Minister said, “The Waqf Law is a reality now. If anybody doesn’t accept this law, he or she is entitled to move the Supreme Court of India. The apex court will take its own decision on this matter. If anybody takes to the streets opposing the new law, those supporting it will also take to the streets. The outcome will be chaos that the state government cannot allow to happen. We will take up the matter with an iron fist.”

Some organisations, including the AAMSU (All Assam Minority Students’ Union), staged a dharna in Guwahati, and some other organisations staged protests in the Cachar district on Friday last. The police arrested seven of the protestors from Silchar.

The Chief Minister said that on Friday last, the government had information regarding a massive protest after the Jumma Namaz. That prompted the government to make the police have detailed discussions with maulavis and other Muslim leaders for the sake of law and order, he said, adding that the government averted a situation that might disturb peace in the state.

Meanwhile, the Cachar police arrested at least seven persons on Tuesday night on the charge of pelting stones and inciting violence during a protest against the Waqf Act on Sunday in the Berenga area of Silchar. The police picked up at least seven persons from the Bagadahar and Kashipur areas in the suburbs of Silchar. The arrested persons were identified as Nazmul Islam Laskar, Bidar Laskar, Rohit Hussain Laskar, Dilwar Hussain, Rohit Ahmed Mazumder, Atikur Rahman Laskar, and Riyazul Laskar. SP Numol Mahatta indicated that a few more people might be arrested.

At around 9.30 am on Sunday, a good number of people belonging to the Muslim community assembled in the Berenga area of Silchar to register their protest against the Waqf Act. All of a sudden, a faction of gatherings started to march towards the main town. Police tried to stop them with barricades at various points. However, the mob allegedly broke the barricades and started pelting stones, targeting the security personnel, who resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the mob.

Speaking to this correspondent, SP Mahanta said that, being alarmed by the higher authorities that some elements might create a law-and-order situation on the Waqf issue, the Cachar police had made successful parleys with all the Masjid committees in the district. He even personally talked to various leading citizens of the Muslim community.

Also read: Assam: Violence Erupts In Silchar Amid Protests Against Waqf Amendment Act.

Also Watch: