Shabas K Haris
At least 25 people were injured after Kerala Police used teargas, water cannons, and lathicharges against activists protesting the Waqf Amendment Act (UMEED) on Wednesday. The protesters were on their way to block Kozhikode International Airport, also known as Calicut International Airport, when the police crackdown occurred.
Around two thousand activists gathered and reached the airport highway by 3:30 PM. There was heavy police deployment at the scene. The police used stun grenades, tear gas, and water cannons against the protesters, which included students, leaving nearly 25 activists injured. The injured were sent to the nearest hospital.
“We were peacefully marching towards the airport when the police stopped us using barricades. They started beating us with lathis. One policeman struck my hand hard. Suddenly, they hurled tear gas at us. I ran towards a nearby house as it became difficult for me to breathe. We washed our faces there,” said Muhammed Rabah, an SIO activist who had come from Vypin in Ernakulam district to attend the protest.
On Tuesday, the Kerala Police had warned that vehicles coming for the protest would be seized.
The protest event was inaugurated by Jamaat-e-Islami National Assistant Ameer Malik Mothasim Khan, who spoke out against the Waqf Act. He stated that the Act does not protect Muslims and is, in fact, detrimental to them. He further added that the RSS is not only an enemy of Muslims but also of Christians in the country. He clarified that the bill is unconstitutional and praised the protesters for standing firm in the face of police brutality.
SIO State President Adv. Abdul Wahid addressed the protesters, stating that the RSS, driven by its ideology, is pushing to establish a Hindu Rashtra by manipulating the bureaucracy, judiciary, and media. He asserted that the SIO is determined to resist this at any cost. Drawing parallels between the UP Police firing on protesters and the actions of the Kerala Police under the Left government, he remarked that both behaved in a similar manner.
Dr. Vinay Raj, Director of the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, addressed the gathering and urged the media to stop portraying all Christians as supporters of the bill simply because a few bishops have endorsed it.
Dr. Jinto John, Vice President of DCC Ernakulam; Hamid Vanianmbalam, National Vice President of the Welfare Party; Thaufeeq Mampad, State President of Solidarity; and social activist K. Ambujakshan also spoke at the event. Dr. Jinto John noted that this was the first organized protest against the Waqf Act in Kerala.
Six leaders were arrested by the police, including SIO State President Adv. Abdul Wahid, Solidarity State President Thaufeeq Mampad, and SIO State Secretariat members Arfad Ali and Asna.
“A few days ago, photos of CPM leaders wearing a keffiyeh in solidarity went viral. However, when it comes to a protest against the newly amended, anti-constitutional Waqf Act that discriminates against Indian Muslims, the same CPM government—despite opposing the Act both inside and outside Parliament—is refusing to show solidarity with the Muslim protesters.It’s ironic that the Kerala government, while portraying itself a s a saviour, is actively suppressing any attempt by Muslim organisations to mobilise independently against the Waqf Act. No matter what happens, our fight will continue, and we will dissent till our last breath,” said Layin, an SIO activist.
