New Delhi:

There was nation-wide protest observed on Friday against the recent passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Parliament this week. People hit the streets of Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Chennai after the namaz on Friday with many carrying placards and raising slogans against the legislation, which aims to increase transparency, strengthen management, and protect Waqf assets and properties.

In Chennai, popular actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagham announced statewide protests, including in the regions of Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli.  Slogans like ‘Reject the Waqf Bill’ and ‘do not take away ‘Muslim rights’ were raised, as per reports.

There was protests in huge scale staged in Ahmedabad at Jama Masjid and Sidi Saiyyed Mosque with people showing its anger against the contentious bill. Visuals and reports indicated that police tried to vacate the spots forcibly by detaining the protestors leading to an intense atmosphere in the Gujarat city. As per a Gujarat Samachar report, 50 people were detained by the cops.

Banners read ‘We Reject Waqf Amendment Bill’ and ‘Reject Waqf Bill’ from the protestors in the capital of West Bengal. According to news agency ANI, many protestors were organised by the Joint Forum for Waqf Protection.

Even students in Delhi from various organisations showed their dissent with the focus being at the Jamia Milia Islamia. Students protested outside the university gate and they raised slogans apart from burning a copy of the bill. According to The Indian Express, the Jamia administration locked the gate but later opened it as students questioned the act. Police personnel force has been increased in various areas of the national capital.

Protests were also seen in Ranchi, Jamui (Bihar) and  Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). The UP police was on high alert in sensitive areas of the state by increasing security force in Lucknow, Sambhal, Bahraich, Moradabad, Muzzafarnagar, Sahranpur, and Noida.

The Nagpur police warned that strict action would be taken against those posting inflammatory message on social media.

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