Mamata calls big meeting with Imams at Netaji Indoor Stadium on April 16 over Waqf Act

As protests intensify across West Bengal against the Centre’s Waqf Amendment Act, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called a high-level meeting on April 16 at Kolkata’s Netaji Indoor Stadium. The meeting will be attended by Imams, Muezzins, clerics, and Islamic intellectuals from across the state. The discussion is expected to focus on the implications of the amended law and the state’s formal response.

The Centre's Waqf Amendment Act has already been passed in Parliament and implemented nationwide, triggering unrest in several parts of Bengal. Protest rallies and marches were reported on Friday from Park Circus, Esplanade, and Murshidabad. Demonstrators expressed strong opposition to what they see as an attack on Waqf autonomy and community rights.

State Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, who will be present at the April 16 meeting, has firmly assured that the amended Waqf Act will not be implemented in West Bengal. “We have no problem in Bengal. This bill has no effect here. The protest will continue but peacefully,” he said while speaking to the media. Hakim also accused the Centre of stoking religious tensions through the legislation.

Hakim added that the Chief Minister’s meeting will include religious scholars and community leaders, ensuring a collective voice in the state’s next move. He emphasized that the legal battle would also continue, noting that Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra has already moved the Supreme Court against the Waqf Amendment Act.

The Waqf Amendment Act is being viewed by many critics as an attempt to centralize control over Waqf properties, which have traditionally been managed by state boards. The opposition in Bengal sees this as a direct interference in minority welfare and religious institutions. Mamata’s planned dialogue is likely aimed at uniting community voices and reinforcing Bengal’s resistance.

While the legal proceedings will unfold at the national level, Bengal’s on-ground pushback is becoming increasingly visible. The April 16 meeting could result in an official resolution or further protest roadmap — and possibly announcements on increased allowances for Imams and Muezzins as part of community outreach.