Lights out in Hyderabad as Muslims protest Waqf Amendment Act
Hyderabad: In response to an appeal by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Muslim households across Hyderabad switched off lights in their homes, shops, and offices for 15 minutes, marking a peaceful, symbolic protest against the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025.
The Muslim personal law board and several Muslim organisations had called for a nationwide protest termed ‘Batti Gul’ (Lights Off) from 9:00 pm to 9:15 pm on April 30, 2025, Wednesday.
Sharing the ‘blackout protest’ video of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s residence, the news agency ANI tweeted, “AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi switches off the lights at his residence under the protest launched by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025.
#WATCH | Hyderabad | AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi switches off the lights at his residence under the protest launched by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025.
(AIMPLB) has launched a campaign to ‘switch off lights’ from 9 pm to… pic.twitter.com/pHve31QbVB
— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025
Earlier, Owaisi said that Waqf Amendment Act is a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution’s Articles 14, 15, 25 and 26. He had appealed to people to switch off the lights of their houses and shops on the night of April 30.
“I appeal to the people to take part in this protest by switching off the lights so that we can send a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that this Act is a violation of the Indian Constitution,” Owaisi said.
AIMIM’s Karwan MLA Kausar Mohiuddin shared a video on his X handle which shows areas like Golconda Bazaar, Tolichowki market and Hakeempet in his Karwan assembly constituency observing the silent protest against the ‘black law’ by switching off lights at their homes and business.
AIMPLB and numerous Muslim groups have been campaigning to raise awareness and mobilise resistance against the controversial Waqf Amendment Act. The board and allied civil society groups had requested a countrywide ‘blackout protest’ to send a unified message of protest.
Batti Gul Protest Karwan Assembly Constituency at Hyderabad
Protest Against Waqf Amendment Act, 2025
Protest call given by @AIMPLB_Official@asadowaisi pic.twitter.com/5RqhYrXvdW
— Kausar Mohiuddin (@kausarmohiuddin) April 30, 2025
