Thousands of people converged on the G.S. Ground in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, on October 27, 2025, in a charged yet peaceful show of dissent against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The demonstration, organized by the Tahaffuz Awqaf Committee Jalgaon (also known as Waqf Bachao Samiti), marked the first large-scale “Jail Bharo Andolan”—a mass voluntary arrest movement—since the All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s (AIMPLB) nationwide protest campaign began. The protest’s sheer scale and the diversity of its participants sent a clear message: opposition to the new law is not confined to one community or political faction, but resonates across wide swathes of Indian society.
The day’s events began with a two-hour sit-in protest, drawing thousands from Jalgaon and neighboring districts. According to Maktoob, organizers emphasized that the crowd included not only Muslims but also people “from all communities and political backgrounds who believe in justice, equality, and the Constitution.” The protest’s peaceful nature was underscored when, after the sit-in, police detained around 2,000 participants. The detainees were taken to the Jilha Peth Police Station, only to be released later that evening—a move that, if anything, seemed to bolster the demonstrators’ resolve.
Farooq Shaikh, one of the event’s key organizers, described the act of voluntary arrest as a powerful statement. “We voluntarily submitted ourselves to the police as part of the Jail Bharo Morcha,” he said, as quoted by Maktoob. “Over two thousand people joined—not just Muslims, but individuals from all communities and political backgrounds who believe in justice, equality, and the Constitution. This is a nationwide movement, and we are proud that Jalgaon led the way with a peaceful and successful protest. Our message to the government is clear—we will not accept this unconstitutional law under any circumstances.”
The protest was not just about numbers or symbolism. It was also about concrete demands and a clear articulation of grievances. A delegation led by Mufti Khalid, president of the Tahaffuz Awqaf Committee, met with Additional Collector Shrimant Harkar and submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India. The memorandum outlined five major demands: the immediate repeal of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025; an end to central government control over Waqf properties; the establishment of independent and transparent Waqf Boards managed by the community; strict action against encroachments and illegal transfers of Waqf land, including those by influential figures within the community; and an extension of the e-registration deadline for mosques, madrasas, and dargahs on the UMEED Portal, which is currently set for December 5, 2025.
Mufti Khalid, speaking to Maktoob, did not mince words about the stakes. “This law interferes not only with our faith but also with our right to self-govern our institutions,” he said. “Our ancestors chose to stay in India after Partition because they believed in justice and equality. This movement is to protect that promise—faith, the Constitution, and justice together.” He further argued that the amendment violates constitutional guarantees under Articles 25 to 30, which protect religious freedom and the rights of minorities to manage their own affairs.
The protest’s support base was notably broad. Several political and social organizations lent their voices, including the Bahujan Kranti Morcha, the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). VBA district president Shameebha Bhanudas Patil was particularly outspoken, describing the amendment as “a product of Manuwadi and Sanghadi ideology aimed at restricting the social and economic independence of Muslims.” Pratibha Shinde of the NCP echoed this sentiment, calling the law “anti-constitutional” and arguing that it “strikes at the heart of India’s secular fabric.”
The broader historical context was not lost on the demonstrators. Shinde invoked the trauma of Partition, remarking, “When Partition tore the subcontinent apart, only one community was asked to choose—and Muslims chose this land, their homeland. They are Indians by choice, not by chance. This law insults that choice, and we stand firmly with the Muslim community in defending their constitutional rights.”
Speakers at the protest were quick to point out that Waqf properties are not mere assets, but vital lifelines for community welfare. These properties fund not only mosques and madrasas, but also schools, hospitals, and colleges serving poor and marginalized groups—especially in regions like North Maharashtra, Nandurbar, and Jalgaon. As one organizer put it, “When control tightens on Waqf lands, it isn’t just property that’s taken—it’s the lifeline that funds education for our children.” The fear among protesters is that increased government control and bureaucratic hurdles could choke off these essential services, deepening inequalities and undermining the community’s ability to support its most vulnerable members.
The mood at the protest was determined, but not confrontational. Organizers insisted that their resistance would remain lawful and peaceful, even as they warned of escalating actions if their demands were not met. “The Jalgaon protest was just the beginning,” Shaikh said. “If this law is not repealed, we will escalate our agitation—first road blockades, then rail blockades, and, if needed, an indefinite hunger strike. This struggle will not stop until justice is restored.”
After their release from police custody, the protesters reconvened for a collective prayer led by Mufti Khalid. His words captured the spirit of the movement: “We are the inheritors of a faith that believes in justice. Our resistance will remain lawful, peaceful, and unwavering.”
At its core, the protest in Jalgaon was about more than just a single law. It was about a community’s fight to preserve its autonomy, its institutions, and its place within a pluralistic India. The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, has become a flashpoint for broader debates about minority rights, secularism, and the meaning of justice in a rapidly changing society. As the movement gathers momentum and the government weighs its response, the eyes of the nation—and indeed, of many beyond its borders—are fixed on Jalgaon and the voices that rose there in defense of constitutional values.
