Positive response to 'lights-off' protest against Waqf Act in Telangana

Hyderabad: The 'Batti Gul' protest called for by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf (Amendment) Act resonated strongly in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana.

The symbolic act of switching off lights for 15 minutes from 9 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday night saw widespread participation, with areas like Nampally, Mallepally, Toli Chowki, Mehdipatnam, and Golconda plunging into darkness.

Shopkeepers also stopped their business for 15 minutes to join the protest.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehad ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also switched off the lights of his residence at Shastripuram.

Owaisi, who is one of the prominent members of AIMPLB, had appealed to people to make the 'lights off protest' a success.

Talking to media persons, the MP said that the protest was a huge success. “There was a huge spontaneous reaction. Reports from Hyderabad, Telangana, and Karnataka show that people, irrespective of their religion, participated in the protest,” he said, and thanked people who made it a success.

Owaisi said that through this protest, they wanted to give a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that this legislation is not in the interest of Waqf.

“This Act is unconstitutional and will destroy Waqf properties,” he said.

He reiterated that this Act is a violation of the Indian Constitution, especially Articles 14, 15, 25, 26 and 29.

The AIMIM president announced plans for another round of protests in the coming weeks, involving the formation of human chains and round-table meetings.

“This protest will continue till the Narendra Modi government withdraws the Waqf Act,” he said.

He described the Act as a ‘black legislation’ and accused it of being designed to seize mosques, graveyards, and other Waqf properties.

Owaisi emphasised that the protest against the Waqf Act remains active. He noted that the AIMPLB had condemned the terror attack at Pahalgam and paused its protest against the Waqf Act for three days.

The MP affirmed that there would be no compromise on the nation’s sovereignty and integrity. He strongly condemned the terror attack and attributed responsibility to the Pakistani establishment.

Owaisi stated that the terrorists, with military and financial backing from Pakistan, targeted tourists and killed them after determining their religion.

(Inputs from IANS)