Waqf Board identifies 17 monuments inside historic Bidar Fort as its property, catches ASI unawares
The Hindu
Karnataka Board of Waqfs claims ownership of 17 monuments in Bidar Fort, sparking controversy and farmer protests.
The Karnataka Board of Waqfs has identified 17 monuments inside the historic Bidar Fort in Karnataka as its property, sources in the district administration said on Wednesday (November 6, 2024).
These properties are among the major landmarks of the fort located in the district headquarters town of Bidar.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the custodian of the fort, is unaware of the development, the sources said, adding that out of 60 properties in the Bidar Fort premises, the Waqf Board found that 17 properties to belong to it.
These include renowned 16-'Khamba' (sixteen pillar) mosque, 14 tombs of various Bahmani rulers and their family members including Ahmed Shah-IV, Ahmed Shah's wife, Allauddin, Hassan Khan, Mohammed Shah-III, Nizam, Sultan Ahmed Shah Wali and Sultan Mahmud Shah.
A top Waqf Board official told PTI, on condition of anonymity, that notices have not been served to the ASI. “How can the Board issue a notice to the ASI, which has been the custodian and protector of the historical monuments for several decades?” He alleged that a lot of mischief and misinformation is happening in the name of Waqf Board that is bringing a bad name to the Muslim community.
“Ever since the controversy started, we decided to withdraw all the notices, because it’s unjust and illegal to evict people sitting on a land for a very long time,” the official added.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 Jagdambika Pal will visit Hubballi and Vijayapura in Karnataka on November 7 to interact with farmers allegedly affected by Waqf Board's action.
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