Places of Worship Act & Waqf Act 2025: What Does It Mean For Muslim Sites?

With temples being "discovered" inside mosques and dargahs across India, sites from Gyanvapi to Sambhal are facing mounting legal petitions under the reclaiming mandir campaign by right-wing Hindu groups. At the heart of it all lies a crucial but overlooked law: the Places of Worship Act, 1991.

But what's really at stake?

This Act was meant to freeze the status of religious sites as they stood in 1947, protecting communal peace after the Babri Masjid demolition. But today, it's under attack. With rising demands to alter mosque sites and a new Waqf law being criticised for targeting Muslim institutions, the ground is shifting fast.

In this explainer, we trace:
The original intent of the Places of Worship Act
Why Babri was exempted and what changed
How the Gyanvapi case may be setting a dangerous precedent
The growing role of the ASI and questions around its neutrality
And how the 2025 Waqf Amendment fits into this broader shift

This isn’t just about old buildings, it’s about power, memory, and who gets to belong in India. Watch the full video to understand the deeper story behind the headlines.

Note: This video was recorded before the passing of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. As a result, it is referred to as the Waqf Bill throughout the video.