The Kerala Police have issued a notice against the protest announced by Muslim groups Solidarity Youth Movement and the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) against the Waqf Amendment Act, at Kozhikode International Airport, warning that any vehicles brought by participants will be seized, and legal action under the Motor Vehicles Act will be taken.
Solidarity and the SIO, the youth and student wings of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Kerala, have announced a blockade of Calicut International Airport on April 9, demanding the repeal of the Waqf (Amendment) Act passed by Parliament last week, which is set to come into effect on Tuesday.
The notice issued under Section 39(2)(d) of the Kerala Police Act stated, “It has come to our attention that, as part of the protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill, organizations such as Solidarity and SIO are planning to blockade the Kozhikode International Airport on 09.04.2025 under their leadership. However, this protest is being organized without the legally required permission from the police.”
“As the protest is being conducted without legal authorization, it is likely to obstruct the freedom of movement of the general public, disrupt the functioning of the Kozhikode International Airport, and potentially lead to law-and-order issues in the area,” said the notice.
According to the notice, action will also be taken against the vehicle owner of “any vehicles bringing participants to this protest will be seized, and legal action under the Motor Vehicles Act will be taken. You are hereby informed of this decision, and action will also be taken against the vehicle owner.”
Several, including the state leadership of both SIO and Solidarity Youth Movement, took to social media to condemn the police action.
They said they would go ahead with the protest despite police warnings and questioned the “hypocrisy” of the Kerala government for opposing the act while simultaneously cracking down on protesters.
Calling the action “undemocratic,” SIO state president Adv. Abdul Wahid criticised the Pinarayi Vijayan government for attempting to suppress dissent over the Waqf Amendment Act under the pretext of “potential” law-and-order issues.
“While the government claims to oppose the Act, it is using tactics similar to those employed by UP and other BJP-ruled states to suppress opposition—even the language used in the notice is strikingly similar,” he added.
P. Mujeeburahman, Kerala state president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, urged the state government to withdraw the notice.
”If Kerala is competing with the Delhi and UP police—who have turned minority persecution into their routine—what, then, is the relevance of a Left government? It is not too late. The Pinarayi government must withdraw from this fascist course of action. India’s oppressed minorities cannot and will not bow to such authoritarian threats from the state,” he said.
 against the Waqf Amendment Act, at Kozhikode International Airport, warning that any vehicles brought by participants will be seized, and legal action under the Motor Vehicles Act will be taken.){kind=link}