The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has announced a nationwide Bharat Bandh on October 3, 2025, in protest against the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The bandh, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., will see Muslim-owned businesses and offices remain shut, though essential services such as medical stores will be exempt. Framed as part of the AIMPLB’s ongoing “Save Waqf” campaign, the protest is being projected as a peaceful movement to oppose provisions that the board claims undermine the protection and autonomy of waqf properties. Alongside the bandh, the campaign also includes special Friday sermons, state-level protests, and submission of memorandums to chief ministers. While AIMPLB insists the protest is not against any community, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has raised concerns over possible law and order issues, cautioning authorities to remain vigilant. The Supreme Court has already stayed parts of the Act but stopped short of suspending it entirely, stating that the law’s constitutional validity needs thorough examination.
