IMPHAL, April 7: Tensions flared in Manipur after the residence of Mohammad Asker Ali, President of the BJP Minority Morcha in the state, was set on fire by an enraged mob, reportedly in retaliation for his public support of the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025. The incident has prompted the Thoubal district administration to impose prohibitory orders across the Lilong assembly constituency under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) on April 7.
According to reports, nearly 7,000–8,000 individuals armed with lathis and stones stormed and torched Ali’s residence in the Lilong Sambrukhong Mamei area on the night of April 6. The mob action followed a social media post earlier that day in which Ali expressed his support for the recently passed Waqf Amendment Bill. Ali, a Meitei-Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) leader representing the Lilong constituency in Thoubal district, had publicly endorsed the Bill, prompting an intense backlash from within his community.
Amid mounting criticism, Asker Ali issued a video statement in Manipuri via Facebook, retracting his earlier support and apologizing. In the video, he said:
“My name is Asker Ali from Lilong Haoreibi Sambrukhong. I had posted videos and shared my comments on social media on Waqf Amendment Bill which was recently passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. I feel so sorry for what I have said. Next time I will not do it. I am clarifying that I don’t support Waqf Amendment Bill and it should be repealed.”
In response to the violent incident, the district magistrate’s prohibitory order bans the gathering of five or more people and the carrying of firearms, swords, sticks, stones, or other lethal weapons in public places within the Lilong constituency. The administration is currently monitoring the situation closely, and while investigations are underway, the perpetrators behind the arson have not yet been identified. The Manipur BJP has also not released an official statement regarding the incident.
The controversy stems from the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was recently approved by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha following extended debates. The legislation aims to overhaul the governance framework of Waqf properties—assets donated by members of the Muslim community for religious or charitable purposes. Key provisions of the Act focus on enhancing transparency, ensuring accountability, and streamlining coordination between Waqf boards and local administrative bodies.
Significantly, the Act also emphasizes the preservation of heritage sites under Waqf management and aims to align Waqf property administration with modern governance standards while safeguarding stakeholders’ rights. The bill has, however, stirred controversy in certain quarters, as evidenced by the violent fallout in Manipur.
