Mysuru: In a powerful display of dissent and unity, over 25,000 people participated in the protest against the Waqf Act 2025 in Mysuru, the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the massive protest, organised under the banner of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), is part of an ongoing movement across India, with daily demonstrations — from Delhi to Hyderabad, Patna to Bhopal — against what is widely perceived as a direct assault on constitutional freedoms and religious autonomy.
Mysuru, known as the cultural capital of Karnataka, and once echoing with the roar of Tipu Sultan Shaheed, witnessed a different kind of resistance — peaceful, yet resolute. On the eve of Tipu Sultan’s martyrdom anniversary, thousands came together to uphold his legacy of valour and defiance against injustice. Speaker after speaker invoked his name as a symbol of standing firm against tyranny, past and present.
The protest site itself was a moving spectacle of democratic expression — a sea of people under the open skies, waving the national flag and holding placards that read “Waqf Hamara Haq Hai” (Waqf is our right), “Waqf Amendment Wapas Lo” (Withdraw the Waqf Amendment), “Le Ke Rahenge Azadi”, and “Jai Bhim”. The slogan “Jai Bhim”, evoking the legacy of Dr BR Ambedkar, was not just an expression of solidarity with Dalit communities, but also a powerful call for their support in defending Waqf rights.
Addressing the gathering, Akbar Ali, senior leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Karnataka, strongly condemned the government’s move. “This is no reform — it’s a constitutional assault disguised as administrative streamlining,” he declared. “Lies were told in Parliament, false affidavits were filed in courts. The government is not safeguarding Waqf lands; it is attempting to seize them.”
Dr HV Vasu, a prominent political activist and long-time voice of Karnataka’s progressive movements, struck an emotional chord with the crowd: “Just as Shaheen Bagh became the cradle of resistance against the CAA, Mysuru today has become a lighthouse of protest against the Waqf Amendment.” He reminded the gathering that when citizens peacefully reclaim public spaces, even the most rigid policies begin to tremble.
The post Fight for Tipu’s legacy: Mysuru roars against Waqf Act first appeared on Kashmir Media Service.
