Bengaluru, March 16 (NationPress) B.Z. Zameer Ahmad Khan, the Minister for Waqf and Housing, emphasized that the Waqf Board will refrain from interfering with any properties associated with temples or educational institutions.

This declaration was made in the Legislative Assembly on Monday while responding to queries posed by senior Congress MLA M.Y. Patil.

Minister Zameer asserted, “I have made it abundantly clear that we will not engage with properties belonging to temples. We will equally respect the properties of schools and educational establishments.”

“Our primary concern is the encroachment of Waqf properties by private entities. In most instances, these encroachments are perpetrated by individuals from the Muslim community,” he detailed.

Zameer noted that Waqf Board properties in the state are estimated to span 1.12 lakh acres, while only 24,054 acres remain under the Board's actual control.

He further explained that approximately 17,580 acres of land have been encroached upon, 47,263 acres have fallen under Inam Abolition, and 23,627 acres have been affected by the Land Reforms Act.

“Since the Congress-led administration took office in Karnataka, I have established Waqf Lok Adalats to identify and reclaim encroached Waqf properties,” he mentioned.

He urged R. Ashoka, the Leader of the Opposition, and other BJP officials to recognize that the formation of Waqf Adalats is aimed at resolving the issue of encroachment on Waqf properties.

“The total Waqf properties exceed 1,12,860 acres. These assets were not allocated by the government but were donated by private individuals for community welfare. Out of this, around 17,969 acres have been encroached upon,” Minister Zameer highlighted.

“The encroachments have not involved temple managements or others. The individuals responsible are from the Muslim community,” he declared.

“To tackle the encroachments, I initiated Waqf Adalats. However, the BJP created considerable controversy during the Belagavi Winter Session, which is why I am clarifying this matter,” Minister Zameer stated.

R. Ashoka countered, “I am aware that in Kalaburagi and its vicinity, Muslims have encroached upon Waqf properties. That is not the crux of our inquiry.”

“We questioned the Waqf Board's claims regarding properties such as the government school attended by pioneering Indian engineer Sir M. Visvesvaraya and temple lands as Waqf properties,” he clarified.

“Historically, temple and Waqf lands were granted to farmers, who have cultivated them for generations. If farmers are in possession of these lands, they should retain them, regardless of whether they are Hindus or Muslims,” Ashoka argued.

“An investigation into Waqf encroachments is warranted. For instance, the renowned Windsor Manor hotel in Bengaluru is situated on such land. Mr. Zameer, you have not addressed this issue and instead focus on other matters. You have not mentioned it even once, possibly because you frequent it for your coffee and meals,” Ashoka critiqued.

Minister Zameer responded that the matter is currently pending with the Supreme Court.

Previously, senior Congress MLA M.Y. Patil raised concerns in the Assembly regarding the encroachment of Waqf properties by private individuals during the Question and Answer session.

MLA Patil stated that in and around Afzalpur town in Kalaburagi district, documentation indicates that numerous properties indeed belong to the Waqf. “We are unable to initiate any government projects and must seek private land instead,” he expressed.

“However, these properties are presently retained by private parties. They are not under the jurisdiction of either the Waqf Board or the government,” he added.