The imminent fear of the anti-Waqf Amendment Act turning violent materialised on Sunday night (6th April) when a mob torched the house of Asker Ali, the President of BJP’s Minority Morcha in Manipur. As per officials, the development followed his public support to the Waqf Amendment Act. Incidentally, this is the same legislation against which opposition parties and Muslim clerics have been instigating the Muslim community, even resorting to brazen fear-mongering and spreading falsehoods.
As per reports, the arson incident unfolded at around 9 pm in Lilong, Thoubal district. As per the officials, the mob went on a rampage and it vandalised his house before setting it on fire. The arson followed Ali’s social media post on Saturday. In his post, he had backed the Waqf Amendment Act. Reportedly, the mob also tried to stop fire brigade and cops from carrying out rescue operations. Intimidated by the violent incident, Ali later posted a video on social media to apologise for his statement stating that he no longer supported the Act.
BJP Muslim leader’s house vandalised & set ablaze, because he supported the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Mob even stopped Fire Brigade & cops from rescue ops.Aksar Ali, Manipur minority morcha Prez, eventually was forced to take U-turn.pic.twitter.com/l98l9AnZYX
— Pooja Shali (@PoojaShali) April 7, 2025
Earlier in the day on Sunday, Imphal valley witnessed several protests against the Waqf Amendment Act. In Lilong alone, more than 5,000 people participated in a rally, disrupting traffic on the National Highway number 102.
The protest also turned violent in some areas. Clashes between protesters and security forces were reported in Irong Chesaba in Thoubal, where demonstrators were stopped from marching further. The protesters raised slogans against the central government stating that the Waqf Act was unacceptable.
One of the protesters, identified as Sakir Ahmed said, “The Waqf Amendment Act is against the ethos of the Constitution. It is completely unacceptable for the Muslim community.”
Additionally, protests were also reported in Kshatri Awang Leikai, Kairang Muslim, and Kiyamgei Muslim areas in Imphal East, as well as in Sora, Thoubal district, among other locations.
The officials stated that following the unrest, security has been tightened in Muslim-majority areas of the Valley, with additional forces deployed.
For those unversed, the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday followed by its passage from the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Later, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the bill on Saturday, making it an Act of the Parliament.
The Opposition and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) have been spreading canards to stoke fear among the Muslim community, alleging that their religious places, homes, and other properties could come under threat — claims that couldn’t be further from the truth.
In reality, several Muslim bodies have extended their support to the Modi government for passing the much-needed Waqf legislation aimed at curbing the unchecked powers of Waqf Boards. However, resorting to old tactics, these Muslim bodies — which have long held sway over the community’s voting preferences — have been branding these supportive voices as ‘Sarkari Muslims’ or ‘BJP agents’ to silence dissent and pressure them into making U-turns.
