Historical monuments, houses, village, religious institutions claimed as waqf properties

VIJAYAPURA, BIDAR, GADAG: Despite repeated assurances from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that the notices from the Waqf Board issued to farmers will be withdrawn, more cases are coming to light in different parts of the state. Not only are historical monuments which are under the Archaeological Survey of India, religious institutions and even houses are shown as waqf properties in revenue records.

In Vijayapura, after farmers’ lands, Hindu temples and maths, it has now come to light that ASI-protected monuments like the Gol Gumbaz, the Bara Kaman, the Ibrahim Roza and the Upli Burj, are shown as waqf properties. In all, 43 structures including ancient wells and entrance arches are shown as waqf properties, leading to anxiety among farmers.

An entire village in Bidar district is shown as waqf property.

In the border district of Bidar, the entire Dharmapura village spread over 26 acres on Survey No. 87, including houses, temple, government school and anganwadis have been shown as waqf properties.

While the 2001 records makes no mention of the waqf board, in 2013, the records mention a claim by the waqf board while the 2024 records clearly mention the land as waqf properties.

About 2,000 people belonging to about 200 families are now facing an uncertain future. They have said that they will not vacate their houses for any reason whatsoever and will take up a strong protest.

Over 11 acres belonging to the Halakeri Annadaneshwara Math Prasada Nilaya in Naregal is shown as waqf property.

At Naregal in Gajendragarh taluk of Gadag district, 11.19 acres of the 15.06 acres of land belonging to the Halakeri Annadaneshwara Math Prasada Nilaya, which was established in the pre-independence days, has been shown as waqf property, belonging to the Rehman Shah Wali Dargai.

Land owners and farmers had donated land to the Prasada Nilaya and the move to record it as waqf property has angered devotees who have warned of protest. The seer of the math, Dr Abhinava Annadana Swami, had said they will take up a legal battle, but after his passing away, no steps had been taken in that direction.