Hyderabad: A massive human chain protest swept through the streets of Hyderabad on Sunday as thousands rallied against the Waqf Amendment Act 2025. The protest, called by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), drew city-wide participation—from Charminar to Erragadda, from Talabkatta to Mehdipatnam—uniting citizens in what many described as a fight to protect the community’s heritage.
BRS senior leader Shaik Abdullah Sohail, who joined the protest at Bazar Ghat, condemned the Act as an assault on the autonomy of Waqf institutions. He warned that the amended act violates the fundamental rights granted by the Constitution.
“This isn’t just a policy change – it’s a direct attack on our community’s rights. We will stand our ground until this law is rolled back,” Sohail told protesters gathered at the busy Bazar Ghat junction.
His presence was significant, representing political backing from within the state opposition ranks. Sohail, a former Telangana Waqf Board chairman, said the proposed changes would strip Muslim institutions of their authority and open the door to state encroachment on religious properties.
Elsewhere, human chains stretched across Hyderabad’s dense urban fabric—from Chandrayangutta to Falaknuma Bridge, Malakpet to Sayeedabad X Road, and Charminar to Nayapul.
With similar protests expected to roll out across other cities, Sunday’s mobilisation in Hyderabad marks a turning point in the growing pushback against the Waqf Amendment Act. Protesters vowed to keep the pressure on until the legislation is withdrawn in full.
