Bengaluru. The Karnataka Waqf Board has identified 17 monuments inside the state’s historic Bidar Fort as its property. District administration sources gave this information on Wednesday. These properties are among the major sites of the fort located in the district headquarters city of Bidar. According to sources, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the custodian of the fort, is not aware of this development.
He said the Waqf Board has identified 17 of the 60 properties located in the Bidar Fort complex as its property, including the famous 16-pillared mosque and 14 tombs of various Bahmani rulers and their family members.
A top official of the Waqf Board, on the condition of anonymity, told ‘PTI-Bhasha’ that the notice has not been given to the ASI.
He asked, “How can the Board issue a notice to the ASI, which has been the custodian and caretaker of historical monuments for many decades?” The officer alleged that a lot of misinformation is being spread in the name of Waqf Board, which is tarnishing the image of the Muslim community.
“Ever since the dispute started, we have decided to withdraw all the notices as it is unjust and illegal to evict people who have been in possession of the land for a very long time,” he said. Meanwhile, Jagdambika Pal, chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee considering the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, will visit Karnataka’s Hubli and Vijayapura on November 7 to talk to farmers allegedly affected by the Waqf Board’s action.
This information comes days after BJP MP Tejashwi Surya requested Pal to invite farmers from Vijayapura district as witnesses to discuss their land dispute with the Waqf Board. Surya, MP from Bengaluru South and member of the committee, said on Tuesday, “The Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf has rejected my request to visit Hubli and Bijapur on November 7 to talk to the farmers affected by the ‘looting action’ of Waqf. Has accepted. He will talk to farmer organizations, monasteries and the petitions given to him will be placed before the Joint Parliamentary Committee.”
After a section of farmers in Vijayapura district alleged that their land has been marked as Waqf property, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that none of them will be evicted and they will be issued permits. The notices will be withdrawn.