Gandhi Maidan hosts historic gathering as Muslim organisations voice concerns over religious rights and constitutional protections
NEW DELHI/PATNA – In a powerful show of dissent against the recently amended Waqf Act, a massive protest rally titled “Waqf Bachao, Samvidhan Bachao” (Save Waqf, Save Constitution) was held at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Sunday. The event drew tens of thousands of participants from across Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, highlighting growing unrest within the Muslim community over the infringement of their constitutional and religious rights.
Organised jointly by Imarat-e-Sharia, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, and various other Muslim bodies, the conference remained officially non-political, with no political leader invited to the stage. However, opposition parties, including prominent figures such as Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, and Purnea MP Pappu Yadav, voiced their support from outside the main platform, criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government for its handling of minority affairs.
Addressing a charged crowd, Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing attack on the central government, accusing it of attempting to strip marginalised communities of their rights.
“Every inch and every page of India is a witness to the shared struggle of Hindus, Muslims, Dalits, and backward communities for freedom,” said Yadav. “This country does not belong to any one person or party — it belongs to all of us.”
Yadav also alleged that the Centre had directed the Election Commission to revise Bihar’s voter list based on documentation predating 1987 — a move he claimed was designed to disenfranchise the poor and minorities under the guise of a “special in-depth review.”
“They want to rob you of your right to vote, your ration, your pension, your reservation and your scholarship. I urge everyone to remain vigilant,” he added.
The speech, however, took an unexpected turn when a drone used for video coverage suddenly veered toward the podium and collided with it. Yadav was forced to momentarily duck to avoid injury. Though no harm was reported, the incident raised serious questions about the security arrangements.
While the organisers claim over five lakh people attended the event, police officials estimated the crowd at just over one lakh. The vast turnout, nonetheless, sent a strong message of resistance.
“All gates of Gandhi Maidan were thrown open. From early morning, people poured in — men, women, youth, and elders — carrying banners and raising slogans to save the Waqf and the Constitution,” said Maulana Shafiq-ur-Rehman, a senior cleric from Imarat-e-Sharia.
He added, “This protest is not about politics. It is about our survival, our identity, and the protection of religious properties granted under the Constitution.”
At the heart of the protest is the recently amended Waqf law, passed in both houses of Parliament earlier this year despite vocal opposition. Critics say the law gives the government excessive control over Waqf properties and undermines community autonomy.
“The Waqf Act was intended to safeguard our religious trusts and institutions,” said Dr Asadullah Qasmi, a representative of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. “But with these amendments, the government seeks to take over what little autonomy our community institutions have. We will not let this happen quietly.”
Since its enactment, more than 70 petitions challenging the new law have been filed in the Supreme Court, which has imposed an interim stay on its implementation.
While the event maintained a deliberately non-political appearance, it received vocal backing from several opposition leaders.
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid called the amended Waqf Act a “deliberate and strategic attack” on the constitutional guarantees provided to minorities. “We are seeing a systematic effort to erode pluralism in the name of governance,” he said in a press statement issued shortly after the rally.
Pappu Yadav, known for his grassroots appeal, stated, “This law does not just affect Muslims. It affects the moral fabric of the country. The attempt to politicise religious institutions is dangerous for democracy.”
In view of the massive gathering, the administration deployed around 250 police personnel, installed CCTV cameras and employed drones for crowd monitoring.
The crowd remained peaceful despite occasional chants against the government and calls to protect the Constitution. Volunteers from several Muslim organisations worked with police to maintain order throughout the day.
The amended Waqf Act has introduced several provisions that critics argue undermine the independence of Waqf boards. These include:
• Expanded powers for central and state governments to inspect and dissolve Waqf Boards.
• Reduced autonomy for Waqf administrators in managing properties.
• Mandatory documentation requirements that are difficult for many rural or marginalised communities to produce.
• Easier transfer of Waqf land for “public purposes”, which some fear will lead to large-scale acquisitions.
Supporters of the law within the ruling party argue that the amendments are meant to increase transparency and curb corruption. “We intend to make the system accountable. Those opposing it are only protecting vested interests,” a BJP spokesperson said in a press release.
Muslim clerics, legal scholars, and social activists at the rally jointly appealed to the Supreme Court to strike down the law, terming it “unconstitutional and discriminatory”.
“We urge the judiciary to uphold secularism and protect the rights of minorities. The government cannot be allowed to act as both referee and player when it comes to religious institutions,” said Advocate Saba Rizvi, who is part of the legal team challenging the Act.
A resolution was also passed during the event, demanding the immediate repeal of the amended law and a return to the original Waqf framework with enhanced protections.
Sunday’s rally in Patna may well prove to be a watershed moment in the ongoing debate over minority rights in India. While the Centre appears determined to push through its agenda, the scale and unity seen in Patna — especially under a non-political banner — highlight a deepening resistance.
As the legal battle continues in the Supreme Court, it remains to be seen whether the government will reconsider its stance or whether this protest marks just the beginning of a larger, nationwide campaign to defend constitutional guarantees and religious freedoms.
