Massive protest erupts in Hyderabad against Waqf Act

Protestors in Hyderabad rally against new Waqf legislation, fearing erosion of Muslim endowments and autonomy of governing bodies.

Thousands of people marched through the streets of Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon, voicing strong opposition to the new Waqf legislation that they say “threatens Muslim endowments and the bodies that govern them”.

The protest, which began at Lal Bahadur Shastri stadium at Basheerbagh and culminated at the Ambedkar Statue on Tank Bund, drew a large crowd from across the city.

Holding placards that read “Tampering with Waqf is equal to tampering with the Constitution” and “We reject Waqf Act, it is a Muslim voice,” protestors chanted slogans like “Waqf Act wapas lo” (Take back the Waqf Act). Several participants also waved the Indian national flag as they marched, underscoring what they described as a constitutional and community-wide concern.

Demonstrators also directed their anger at political leaders who have backed the legislation. Slogans were raised against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for their support of the law, which many in the Muslim community fear could erode the autonomy of Waqf boards and threaten the future of religious properties.

“The Waqf Act is an attack on Waqf properties and will lead to the end of Sharia. We came from Sanathnagar because this affects every Muslim. If we don’t raise our voice now, we will lose our identity,” said Syed Majid Hussain, a driver from Sanathnagar who attended the protest with his friend Farhad Khan.

The large turnout led to severe traffic congestion across several key junctions between Basheerbagh and Tank Bund. Protestors occupied the Basheerbagh flyover, causing significant delays. Commuters faced long snarls, especially around the Ambedkar Statue where the protest concluded.