Waqf bill protest rallies choke central Kolkata

A massive protest rally against the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 rocked Kolkata on Thursday, as thousands gathered at the Ramlila Ground in Maula Ali under the leadership of Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury, West Bengal’s Minister of Mass Education Extension and Library Services and President of the West Bengal unit of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind.

The demonstrators came from surrounding districts, responding to a call to oppose what leaders described as a “direct attack on the Constitution and Muslim rights”. The proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, according to them, seek to weaken state-level control and facilitate central intervention in Waqf property matters—a move strongly contested by protest leaders.

In his fiery speech, Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury said, “This bill is unconstitutional and communal. The Centre must not play with fire.” He accused the central government of trying to usurp Waqf assets and warned that such moves would only spark greater unrest. Chowdhury asserted that Waqf matters are not within the Prime Minister’s jurisdiction and urged the community to remain united.

Backing the protest, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also voiced sharp criticism of the proposed bill during an assembly session. She stated that Waqf properties are essential for various social and developmental projects and that the Centre’s move violated the federal structure of governance. She questioned why the central government did not consult state governments before proposing such a sweeping amendment.

The protest disrupted vehicular and pedestrian traffic in major parts of Kolkata, especially around Moulali and Howrah, with visuals showing dense crowds and stalled traffic on arterial roads. Commuters faced long delays, and police were deployed in large numbers to manage the situation.