Ahmedabad witnessed a dramatic post-Friday prayer showdown as Gujarat Police swooped in to detain over 50 Muslim protestors who gathered to voice their dissent against the contentious Waqf Bill. The city, known for its calm post-prayer hours, turned into a battleground of slogans, sirens, and swift police action.
Protestors, many of whom were affiliated with political outfits like AIMIM and the Congress, took to the streets in parts of the city, holding banners and shouting slogans such as “Tanashahi Nahi Chalegi” (Dictatorship will not work). Within minutes, police forces moved in, detaining scores of demonstrators in what authorities described as a preventive measure to uphold public order.
The controversial Waqf Bill, which has sparked debates across the country, is being seen by many in the Muslim community as an infringement on religious and communal autonomy. Critics argue that the proposed reforms could centralize power, disrupt the functioning of local waqf boards, and threaten centuries-old property rights.
However, Gujarat Police have maintained a no-nonsense stance. “Nobody will be allowed to disrupt peace and law & order. This is not about silencing dissent but about ensuring stability,” a senior police official stated, conveniently brushing aside the optics of detaining peaceful protestors.
Political analysts are now questioning the increasingly frequent deployment of police to stifle dissent, especially when it involves minority voices. “The protestors were unarmed and mostly vocal. Detentions of this scale, so swiftly after Friday prayers, paint a concerning picture,” said a senior journalist based in Gujarat.
The incident also raises questions about the narrowing space for peaceful protest in a democracy that promises freedom of speech. It seems that the protestor’s right to speak ends where the state’s fear begins.
Ironically, the heavy-handed response may end up amplifying the very concerns the protestors wanted to raise. Social media has been abuzz since the incident, with hashtags like #WaqfBillProtest and #DemocracyOnTrial trending.
As India navigates its delicate balance between faith, governance, and the right to dissent, the events in Ahmedabad serve as yet another reminder of the country’s shrinking tolerance for voices of resistance. And if raising your voice gets you arrested, one wonders—what’s next? Thought policing?
For now, the protestors are in custody, but the message is loud and clear: challenging authority, even with slogans, may come at a cost. Whether that’s the price of democracy or the fee for dictatorship is a debate still unfolding.