Mangaluru: Rally Against Wakf Amendment Bill; High Court orders Protesters to Keep Roads Clear

Mangaluru: Several Muslim organizations are set to hold a massive protest rally on Friday, April 18, at the Shaa Grounds in Adyar Kannur, on the outskirts of Mangaluru, opposing the implementation of the Waqf Amendment Act. The protest, organized & is expected to see participation from thousands of people across coastal Karnataka, including Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan. Religious scholars and leaders, including Khazi Shaikhuna Twakha Ustad and Khazi Shaikhuna Mani Ustad, will guide the event. Announcements have already been made in mosques, urging Muslim citizens to join the protest following Friday prayers.

However, the Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to ensure that the protest does not disrupt traffic, especially on the Mangaluru-Bengaluru NH-73 highway. The court bench, led by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, emphasized that demonstrations must be held only at designated areas approved by the authorities, keeping in mind that the matter is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court. Similar protests are being held across India, with reports of violence in West Bengal. Organizers in Mangaluru have laid out a “mega plan” to conduct the protest peacefully, marking it as one of the largest gatherings against the Act in the state. Protests in Bengaluru and Hubballi are expected to follow in the coming weeks.