Land Jihad in Kolhapur: Waqf Board grab around Mahadev Temple. Villagers organisations protest

The entire village of Wadanage in Kolhapur, Maharashtra observed a bandh to protest against the land grab by the Waqf Board around Mahadev Temple. Reports suggest that villagers have submitted a statement to Collector Amol Yedge on behalf of the Hindu community. Several Hindu organisations and locals participated in the Bandh.

 

The villagers have accused the Gram Panchayat of failing to present its case during ongoing hearings related to the land. Though the District Collector assured the delegation of villagers and Hindu organisations that he would look into the matter and appeal to higher authorities, he asked them to first approach the Zila Parishad administration and seek action in the matter.

Speaking to the media, local villager Piraji Sankpal said, “The land, ‘Agricultural Survey No. 89’ at Wadanage, belongs to the Gram Panchayat. The Waqf Board claimed this land 25 years ago, and the hearing has been ongoing since then. Due to the Gram Panchayat administration’s inability to present its side effectively, this land has been transferred to the Waqf Board. In protest, all the Hindus of the village observed a bandh. This situation has arisen because the Gram Panchayat administration’s role in the case has been suspicious.”

In a post on X about the matter, Legal Rights Observatory alleged that a few years ago the temple committee allotted shops to Muslims around the temple as they submitted exorbitant bids during the auction process.

 

Several local Hindus warned the temple committee that it would create problems in the future and the temple might lose land. However, the management allegedly did not pay heed to the warning and overruled the objection.

 

The very literal meaning of Waqf is detention or confinement and prohibition. As per Islam, it is the property that is now available only for religious or charitable purposes, and any other use or sale of the property is prohibited. As per Sharia law, once Waqf is established, and the property is dedicated to Waqf, it remains as Waqf property forever.

Waqf means that the ownership of the property is now taken away from the person making Waqf and transferred and detained by Allah. As per Sharia, this property is now permanently dedicated to Allah, making Waqf irrevocable in nature.

‘Waqif’ is a person who creates a waqf for the beneficiary. As Waqf properties are bestowed upon Allah, in the absence of a physically tangible entity, a ‘mutawalli’ is appointed by the waqif, or by a competent authority, to manage or administer a Waqf.