Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal

Bantwal, Apr 24: Opposing the recent amendment to the Waqf Act by the central government, members of the Muslim community in Bantwal held a day-long protest in front of the Bantwal taluk administration office on Wednesday.

The protest was inaugurated by K H Abubakkar, president of the Bantwal Taluk Muslim Community Association. In his address, he clarified, “We are not protesting against any religion; we are raising our voice against the injustice done to us. This is a protest against the BJP-led central government.”

Former minister B Ramanath Rai, who participated in the protest, said, “I am here in support of this protest against the Waqf Act amendment, on behalf of the Congress party. Standing with the Muslim community when injustice is done is not appeasement. During the Congress regime, we treated all communities equally.”

Leader Rafiyuddin Kudroli said, “Muslims and Hindus have been living together harmoniously in this country. This amendment is an act of division.”

The protesters also condemned the recent killings carried out by terrorists in Kashmir. A silent prayer was held to pay tribute to the deceased. The leaders urged for strict punishment for those responsible for the massacre, emphasizing that such acts of human rights violations must be strongly opposed.

The protest saw the participation of Amanullah Master, former Mangaluru mayor Ashraf, Ashraf Badriya, honorary president of the Muslim community B H Abdul Khader, Siraj, Abbas Ali Bolanthuru, M S Mohammad, Jaffer Faizi, P A Rahim, Ibrahim Kailar, Shahul H S, Panemangalore Block Congress president Chandrashekar Bhandary, Baby Kundar, Pius L Rodrigues, Ashwini Kumar Rai, along with several religious, social, and political leaders from both the Muslim community and other communities.

I M R Iqbal welcomed the gathering.