All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi has called for a symbolic protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, urging citizens to switch off their lights for 15 minutes on the night of April 30.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, the Hyderabad MP appealed to the public to participate in the protest by turning off lights at their homes and shops from 9:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., in a show of dissent against the new law.
“This ‘black law’ undermines our fundamental rights. I request everyone to join the protest and show the government that we will not remain silent on issues that threaten our constitutional freedoms,” Owaisi said.
The campaign, backed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), is part of broader efforts to oppose the legislation, which has drawn criticism from various quarters of the Muslim community. The AIMPLB had earlier staged a protest in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, on April 27, reiterating their demand to revoke the amendments.
Government Defends Law In Supreme Court
On April 25, the Centre submitted a preliminary affidavit in the Supreme Court, defending the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The government argued that the changes made through the Act are aimed solely at regulating the secular administration of waqf properties and do not infringe on religious freedoms protected under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.
The affidavit urged the court not to impose a stay on any provisions of the law, asserting that courts traditionally do not suspend statutory provisions unless a clear and compelling violation is established.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on April 2 and 3, respectively. It was subsequently passed in both Houses of Parliament and received presidential assent on April 5, making it official law.
Despite the passage of the Act, the legislation continues to face legal challenges. Among those contesting its validity in the Supreme Court is Owaisi himself, along with several other petitioners who argue that the amendments infringe upon minority rights and undermine the autonomy of waqf institutions.
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