https://perma.cc/46GL-KRHJMultiple social media users have shared a collage of two images: one showing the Shri Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai and the other featuring the idol of the Hindu god Ganesha located within the temple. The posts claim that the Waqf Board has staked a claim to the temple. 

The viral collage also displays the logo of Sakal, a Marathi-language daily newspaper, on the top right corner, giving the impression that the post originated from the newspaper.

One user wrote a post in Marathi on X, which roughly translates to: “Very infuriating! Waqf Board claims on Siddhivinayak Temple, which is the idol of Hindus and the identity of Mumbai! The Mahavikas Aghadi has given written consent to the demands of the Ulema, including the demand for Waqf. If you want to save temples and forts, vote for Mahayuti!”

The Mahayuti (translated as Grand Alliance) is the ruling coalition in Maharashtra. The alliance currently includes three major parties: the BJP, Shiv Sena (SHS), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

This post, from November 18, 2024, has garnered over 40,000 views. Archived versions of this and similar posts carrying the purported Sakal news graphic, including one by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Nitesh Rane, can be found here, here, here, and here.

The Waqf Board is a statutory body in India that manages waqf properties, which are charitable endowments made by Muslims for religious, educational, or community purposes.

Some others have shared the claim without the viral graphic, alleging the same. Archived versions of such posts can be found here and here.

However, our investigation found that the viral claim is false and that the graphic being used to support it has been fabricated.

What did we find?

A reverse image search of the viral collage with the Sakal logo did not yield credible results. No such graphic was found on Sakal Media’s social media accounts, and no report was published by the newspaper.

A visual comparison between the viral graphic and Sakal’s official creatives posted on their social media revealed several discrepancies. Unlike the viral graphic, Sakal’s posts do not have borders, and the text in Sakal creatives is always left-aligned, while the text inside the viral graphic is centered. 

Further, Sakal has issued statements on its social media clarifying that the image is fake. A statement posted by Sakal on X (archived here) in Marathi roughly translates to: “Currently, a misleading creative in the name of ‘Sakal’ has gone viral on social media with the title ‘Waqf Board’s Claim on Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai.’ However, no such creative has been created by ‘Sakal,’ and this mischief has been done by using the name and logo of ‘Sakal.'”

Shital Pawar, Executive Editor of Sakal Media, also posted on X (archived here), clarifying that the viral image is fake.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray reacted to the claim, writing on X (archived here): “The absolutely disgusting mentality of the BJP’s ecosystem. Divide and rule. Lie and try to win. Will the @ECISVEEP and @MumbaiPolice ever act and arrest such disgusting hate creators and Maharashtra haters? Don’t play with our sentiments and emotions in Maharashtra for your votes.”

What did Waqf Board and Siddhivinayak Temple say?

Logically Facts contacted the Maharashtra Waqf Board for clarification. Junaid Syed, CEO of the Maharashtra Waqf Board, told us: “This is fake news. There is no such communication, nor has the board made any such claim.”

A video featuring Pawan Kumar Tripathi, treasurer of the Sri Siddhivinayak Mandir Trust, has been widely shared on social media, where he can be heard saying that the temple is a symbol of Mumbai’s pride and that no board can lay claim to it. He further stated that the temple has always belonged to the devotees of Lord Ganesha and will continue to do so.

Logically Facts contacted Tripathi for further comment. He confirmed that the video was genuine and added that the temple has not received any communication from the Waqf Board and that he has seen no such claim from them.

The verdict

Both the temple authorities and the Maharashtra Waqf Board have confirmed to Logically Facts that no such claim has been made on the Shri Siddhivinayak Temple. Sakal Media also clarified in public statements that the viral social media graphic carrying the news organization’s logo is fake.

(This story was originally published by Logically Facts, and republished by NDTV as part of the Shakti Collective)

Kochi:

The Kerala High Court has observed that section 52A of the Waqf Act, which was inserted by an amendment in 2013, does not say that those in occupation of waqf property prior to that can be prosecuted for alienating such land without the Waqf Board’s sanction.

The observation by Justice P V Kunhikrishnan came while quashing the criminal proceedings against two officials of the Department of Posts for allegedly alienating waqf property without the Waqf Board’s permission.

The criminal proceedings were initiated against the officials on a complaint by the Kerala State Waqf Board.

Quashing the criminal proceedings pending before a magisterial court in Kozhikode, the High Court said the post office was functioning on the waqf property since 1999 and section 52A of the Act does not show that a person who is in occupation of such land even prior to the insertion of the provision were liable to be prosecuted.

“Hence, I am of the considered opinion that the prosecution against the petitioners is unsustainable,” Justice Kunhikrishnan said.

The complaint was filed against the Department of Post officials as they had not vacated the property despite the Waqf Tribunal directing them to do so in 2018.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Guwahati:

Tripura’s minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Sudhangshu Das, has sparked controversy with his comment that if Muslims have Wakf Board, Hindus should be entitled to have ‘Sanatan Board’. Other communities like Christians and Sikhs should have their separate boards, he said in a social media post, adding that unless that happens, all such boards should be cancelled.

In a post from his official Facebook handle, Sudhangshu Das wrote, “This country is a secular and democratic country as per the Indian Constitution, where all citizens have equal rights”.

“So, if Muslims have Wakf Board, then there should be Sanatan Board for Hindus, separate boards should be given for Christians, Sikhs and all other religions, or else (such boards) for all religions should be cancelled and equal rights for all citizens should be introduced,” read a rough translation of his Bengali post.

“This is my appeal to the Government of India,” he added with the hashtag #HinduUnity.

The post has led to sharp reaction from the Opposition.

“He (Das) has been sworn in twice as MLA, once as minister till now. All those oaths were taken in the name of the Constitution but it seems he has failed to develop respect and show dignity for the Constitution. He has made several other comments previously that we objected to. If he chooses to make such comments, he should step down from his government position and then make random comments as a common public,” said CPM state secretary and former Lok Sabha MP Jitendra Chaudhary.

Mr Das is no stranger to controversies.  

In September this year, he landed in another controversy by saying in a social media post that he felt Hindus did not have the moral right to perform puja of gods and goddesses any more. A community that can’t save its deities and temples from infidel jihadis (bidhormi jihadi), does not have the right, he wrote.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday instructed officials to immediately withdraw all notices sent to farmers concerning Waqf land issues.

A decision to this effect was taken during a high-level meeting, with senior officials from the Revenue department, the Minority Welfare department, and the Karnataka Board of Waqfs.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has issued a strict directive for the immediate retraction of all notices sent to farmers about Waqf land, emphasising that no disruption should be caused to them,” a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) read.

The statement noted Siddaramaiah’s dissatisfaction with recent actions by certain officials and highlighted concerns that the JD(S) and BJP were allegedly using the Waqf issue for political gains, potentially disrupting peace in the state.

“Siddaramaiah has urged the public to ignore any misinformation and directed officials to handle the matter with sensitivity,” it added.

The statement also emphasised that all notices issued to farmers regarding land records tied to Waqf properties must be promptly withdrawn. Officials were instructed to avoid harassing farmers or causing any issues related to lands under their possession.

The CM further directed that any unauthorised changes made to land records (Pahani or RTC) without prior notice or legal procedures should be immediately nullified.

The meeting was attended by Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, and senior government officials. However, Minority Welfare and Waqf Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan was not present.

Earlier, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said all District Deputy Commissioners have been directed not to issue notices to farmers under the Waqf Act.

He affirmed that revenue records would be considered final, and administrative actions would adhere to them.

“The Chief Minister has instructed all deputy commissioners to withdraw such notices or letters. The matter is now resolved, though we are unsure of any future developments,” Parameshwara told reporters.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The fourth meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to examine the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, was held on Friday.

During the meeting, senior officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made a presentation before the Joint Parliamentary Committee. Several stakeholders, including the Zakat Foundation of India and the Telangana Waqf Board, put forth their views, suggestions, and oral evidence on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Speaking after the JPC-led meeting, Shiv Sena (Shinde group) leader and panellist of the JPC, Naresh Mhaske told ANI that Waqf Board properties are not being used for the welfare of the poor.

“This is why the Waqf Board Amendment Bill has been brought and as members of the committee, we are deliberating on the bill, and it will soon be tabled in the Parliament for approval. ASI also attended the meeting. ASI said that many properties which have previously been conserved by the government of India, have been claimed by the Waqf without any proof,” Mr Mhaske told ANI.

Opposition parties have been continuously opposing the Waqf Board Amendment Bill in JPC meetings, leading to uproar and heated debates.

Naresh Mhaske said that the opposition only talks about opposing, and there is a competition among them to see who can speak out more against the amendment bill and deliver more speeches.

“After Owaisi delivered a speech, others followed suit to secure their vote bank and showcase their strength,” he added.

Mr Mhaske said that the Zakat Foundation and Telangana Waqf Board also shared the same view, arguing against amending the Waqf Board bill while presenting their reasoning.

According to sources, the Archaeological Survey of India gave a detailed presentation in the JPC-led meeting on issues related to Waqf in protected monuments and sites and explained the problems they are facing. They also discussed why the Waqf Board Amendment Bill is necessary.

The meeting also witnessed heated exchanges between the opposition parties and the ruling party MPs regarding various amendments to the proposed Bill.

In the third JPC-led meeting on Waqf held on Thursday, the presentation was given by ministries including the Ministry of Urban Development, Railways, and Road and Transport. The Secretary of the Housing Development Department also presented his views in the JPC meeting, stating that there is a dispute between DDA and Waqf Board over 138 properties in Delhi, out of which 123 properties are highly contentious, the sources said.

Naresh Mhaske earlier told ANI that discussions are being done on various topics regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in the JPC and to ensure that the poor people from minority communities get benefits from the bill. “I urge the opposition to think about the interest of the country and constitution. They should stop creating confusion among the people,” he added.

The Waqf Act 1995 empowers the Waqf Board to declare any property or building as Waqf property in the name of charity. According to sources, using this authority, the Waqf Board has issued notifications to declare protected monuments as Waqf properties, resulting in conflicts with the rights granted under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958.

The sources claim that the Waqf Board restricts the Archaeological Survey of India from performing regular conservation and maintenance work at these protected monuments. There are several instances where Waqf authorities have made changes to the original structure of protected monuments, affecting their authenticity and integrity. Dual authority over monuments of national importance often leads to administrative issues.

According to sources, ASI in their presentation mentioned that representative or committee members of Waqf sometimes make unilateral decisions that conflict with policies. In some cases, ASI employees are restricted from entering certain parts of the monument, citing confidentiality. Waqf authorities sometimes claim ownership of the monument, leading to management issues.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Samajwadi Party boss Akhilesh Yadav attacked the BJP Thursday morning over proposed amendments to 44 sections of the Waqf Act of 1995, declaring the Bill a pretext to profit from sale of Waqf-owned lands and that the ruling outfit should rename itself ‘Bharatiya Zameen (land) Party’.

Mr Yadav’s sarcastic swipe came hours before Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tables the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act in the Lok Sabha.

The proposed amendments will change 44 sections of the older legislation, including allowing non-Muslims and Muslim women to be named to central and state Waqf bodies. Among other major proposed changes are omission of Section 40 from the existing law, which allows the Board to classify properties; this means it can, under current rules, declare any of its properties as Waqf.

“All these amendments… are just an excuse. Selling land (owned by) Defence Ministry, Railways, and Nazul land (i.e., land inherited from the colonial British government) is the target. Waqf Board lands are just another link in the chain of ‘schemes for the benefit of BJP’…” Mr Yadav said in Hindi on X.

‘वक़्फ़ बोर्ड’ का ये सब संशोधन भी बस एक बहाना है
रक्षा, रेल, नज़ूल लैंड की तरह ज़मीन बेचना निशाना है

वक़्फ़ बोर्ड की ज़मीनें, डिफ़ेंस लैंड, रेल लैंड, नज़ूल लैंड के बाद ‘भाजपाइयों के लाभार्थ योजना’ की शृंखला की एक और कड़ी मात्र हैं। भाजपा क्यों नहीं खुलकर लिख देती : ‘भाजपाई-हित… pic.twitter.com/VwK3YyWAG5

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 8, 2024

“Why doesn’t BJP openly write: ‘Issued in interest of BJP’? BJP is working like a real estate company. It should change its name by adding ‘Zameen’ instead of ‘Janta’: Bhartiya Zameen Party.”

Mr Yadav called for a “written guarantee that Waqf Board lands will not be sold”.

Waqf Boards across India own nearly eight lakh acres, making it the largest private land-owning organisation. The Defence Ministry and the Railways have more, but they are government-owned.

The proposal to alter the Waqf Act has been heavily criticised by the opposition and some members of the Muslim community, and fiery protests are likely when the amendments are tabled later today.

Earlier today, Congress MPs KC Venugopal and Hibi Eden filed notices to oppose introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. Akhilesh Yadav’s party will also oppose the Bill.

NDTV Explains | Non-Muslims On Boards, Council Can’t Claim Land: Waqf Changes

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has given notice to oppose the amendments, claiming it is against rights guaranteed under the Constitution, including freedom to practice religion. “The amendments are discriminatory and arbitrary, and are a grave attack on the basic structure of the Constitution as it violates principle of judicial independence and separation of powers,” Mr Owaisi said.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board said changes “will not be tolerated”. Spokesman SQR Ilyas said the government wants to change the status of Waqf properties so “possession is easier”. Also, the Tamil Nadu Board chief told NDTV called it a ploy to “weaken” and “destabilise” such organisations.

READ | ”No Need For Amendment”: Tamil Nadu Waqf Board On Centre’s Move

The government, however, has dismissed such claims.

Sources told NDTV the idea is to empower Muslim women and children who “suffered” under the old law. The objective, sources declared, is also to curb illegal occupancy of by Waqf boards.

READ | Waqf Law Change To Help Women, Say Government Sources

Sources also claimed a “dangerous narrative” is being manufactured by certain Muslim clerics who are making wild statements that their land will be snatched

The government, meanwhile, also wants the passage of the bill to be “inclusive” exercise, and is willing to send the amendments to a joint committee for further study, sources said.

The 1995 Wakf Act was passed to regulate ‘auqaf‘ (assets donated and notified as Waqf) by a ‘wakif’ (the person who dedicates the property). The legislation was last amended in 2013.

With input from agencies

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