On May 3, 2025, a massive protest was held in Araria, Bihar, in opposition to the Union government’s controversial Waqf Amendment Act. Organized by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the demonstration saw thousands of participants from various social, religious, and political backgrounds gather near Millia College. The protest was presided over by Naib Nazim Mufti Sohrab Alam Nadvi of Imarat-e-Shariah, Patna, and supported by major organizations including Imarat-e-Shariah, Jamiatul Ulama-e-Hind, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, and Tablighi Jamaat, as well as several political and civil society groups.

Prominent figures, including Purnia MP Rajesh Ranjan (Pappu Yadav), joined the protest as the chief guest, along with numerous religious leaders and activists. The speakers condemned the Waqf Amendment Act, labelling it a “black law” that undermines the constitutional and democratic rights of the Muslim community. Protesters accused the government of using the law to seize Muslim properties under the guise of amendments, transferring them to corporate giants such as Adani and Ambani. They argued that the law was an example of legislative overreach, one that threatens the community’s rights and promotes religious polarization.

Following the rally, which wound through Araria’s main streets, a memorandum of demands was submitted to the District Magistrate. Protest leaders, including former MP Sarfaraz Alam and local MLAs Shahnawaz Alam and Abidur Rahman, spoke out against the government’s attempts to divide communities through controversial legislation. Religious figures, such as Mufti Inaamul Bari and Maulana Shahid Adil, also addressed the crowd, stressing the need for solidarity and the continuation of protests until the law is repealed. The protest underscored the growing discontent among the Muslim community over the government’s actions, with demonstrators vowing to continue their agitation until the Waqf Amendment Act is fully rolled back.