Rasheed Ahmed

BJP leaders routinely vilify Muslims as infiltrators and terrorists, telling them to “go to Pakistan.” Yet when global optics demand a semblance of inclusivity—especially in the eyes of Gulf countries that fund India’s energy needs or host its workforce—the same party suddenly discovers Muslim emissaries. The catch?

On paper, it promises to secure the privacy of Indian citizens. In reality, it introduces sweeping new powers for the government, imposes vague but punitive obligations on individuals, and threatens the work of journalists, whistleblowers, and civil society actors who hold the powerful to account.

The ramifications of Waqf Amendment Bill are nationwide, yet the discourse around it remains restricted to certain pockets of the country. While some organizations have raised their voices in opposition, there has been no significant, coordinated political mobilization.

It is time for Indian Muslims to take action to protect and utilize waqf assets as intended by their donors, free from intimidation or interference by the Indian government or those driving India toward an abyss of hatred.