Abolish ‘Waqf Law’ under which land worth crores of rupees given by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj is being grabbed : Sunil Ghanwat, HJS

Press conference held by all pro-Hindu organisations

(From left) Kiran Duse, Deepak Desai, Anandrao Pawal, Sunil Ghanwat, Manohar Sorap, Ashish Lokhande, Parag Fadanis, and Shivanand Swami

Kolhapur (Maharashtra) – ‘Waqf Board’ has started the process of grabbing property worth crores of rupees of ‘The Mohammedan Education Society (MES)’ at Kolhapur, set up by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj for the education of the Muslim and other students. It has created a wave of anger amongst people. Waqf Board has already grabbed lakhs of acres of land all over the country; therefore, the black law of ‘Waqf’ allowing ‘Land jihad’ by taking over land given by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj worth crores of rupees should be abolished, demanded Mr Sunil Ghanwat, the State Coordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) for the States Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. He addressed a press conference held at Press Club, Kolhapur by all pro-Hindu organisations on the 15th of July 2023.

Sunil Ghanwat addressing a press conference and participating journalists

The press conference was attended by Mr Anandrao Pawal (regional Vice President, Janajagruti Samiti), Mr Manohar Sorap (District President, Hindu Mahasabha), Mr Deepak Desai (District President, Hindu Ekata Andolan), Mr Parag Fadanis (District Convener, Bajrang Dal), Mr Ashish Lokhande (Secretary, Shri Shiva-pratishthan Hindustan’s Kolhapur city), and Mr Kiran Duse and Mr Shivanand Swami of HJS.

Mr Ashish Lokhande said, “Waqf Board claiming right on MES now, may claim dargah at Vishalgad or claim right on whole Vishalgad.”

Mr Deepak Desai said, “The land originally belonged to Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj; therefore, we request the present Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj to look into this matter. We feel that instead of Waqf Board taking over MES, the whole Trust should be taken over by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj.”

Why did the Government machinery turn a blind eye when Waqf Board was claiming lands on such a large scale ? – Sunil Ghanwat

Mr Sunil Ghanwat

Mr Sunil Ghanwat said further that Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj gave this land as a means to generate income for giving scholarships to students from Muslim and other communities. It was not given for only Muslims or religious purposes. Even then, Waqf Board is misusing the Waqf Law and doing injustice to students from backward communities, by grabbing the lands. Waqf Board has started taking over Hindus’ lands in Maharashtra, including Kolhapur District. In 2009, Waqf Board had 4 lakh acres of land. How has the Board managed to have 8 lakh acres of land by 2023 ? What was the Government doing when such a huge takeover was carried out by Waqf Board ?

Repeal the Waqf Act which forcibly grabbed the land worth crores of rupees that was donated by Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj
Also launch an inquiry into the 8 lakh acre land owned by the #Waqf_Board across the country of which 77 k+ acres in Maharashtra@Vishnu_Jain1 @Rajput_Ramesh pic.twitter.com/inmVvH8OJG

— Sunil Ghanwat (@SG_HJS) July 15, 2023

The other demands made, in this press conference, were the whole matter should be investigated at the Central level; an inquiry should be conducted into Waqf Board, land illegally taken over by it, should be returned to the concerned owners, and the guilty should be severely punished.

Highlights

Mr Anandrao Pawal said on the occasion, “If the Yogi Government can order investigations into land owned by Waqf Board in Uttar Pradesh, similar investigations should be conducted in Maharashtra and all over the country. Lands taken over by Waqf Board is a type of ‘Land jihad’ and this law has to be abolished.”

Many journalists said after the press conference that they were not aware of this issue in so much detail, and they also realised the conspiracy hatched through Waqf Board. They said that they could understand the gravity of this issue due to the press conference.

A legal fight against Waqf !

One of the reporters asked about the next step of the movement and the efforts made to take up the issue at the Central level. Mr Sunil Ghanwat replied, “We are fighting against Waqf at the State and national levels. We are legally fighting this case with the help of advocates; besides, we are trying to raise the matter in the sessions of State Assemblies and Parliament.”

Muslim Waqf Board, Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Mr Sunil Ghanwat informed the reporters about the demonstrations proposed to be held on Sunday, 16th July 2023, near the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, at 11.00 a.m. and he appealed to people to participate in the demonstrations.