Hyderabad’s Old City Goes Dark in Protest Against Waqf (Amendment) Act

In a significant show of dissent, several areas of Hyderabad’s old city switched off their lights for 15 minutes on Wednesday night, responding to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s (AIMPLB) call for a ‘Batti Gul’ protest against the recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, Telangana Today reported.

Neighborhoods including Nampally, Mallepally, Toli Chowki, Mehdipatnam, and Golconda participated, with shopkeepers also halting business briefly.

AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, a prominent AIMPLB member, led by example by switching off the lights at his residence. He described the protest as a huge success, highlighting participation across religious lines in Telangana and Karnataka.

Owaisi condemned the Act as unconstitutional, violating several constitutional articles, and warned it threatens Waqf properties. He pledged continued protests, including human chains and round-table meetings, until the government repeals the legislation. The protest paused briefly following a terror attack in Pahalgam, which Owaisi strongly condemned.