Villagers of Wadanage, situated in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur District, observed a bandh on 24 May to protest the Waqf Board’s land grab. The Waqf Board is accused of grabbing land adjacent to Mahadev Temple and shops in the area. Wadange villagers submitted a statement to Collector Amol Yedge highlighting the Gram Panchayat’s failure to present its position regarding the land during the ongoing hearing.

The collector assured the delegation of Wadanage villagers and Hindu devotees that they would verify the entire issue, appeal to the higher authorities, and ensure that the Zilla Parishad administration looked into the matter. The delegation that met the collector included heads of various Hindu organisations and Wadanage villagers represented by Piraji Sankpal, Amar Chowgule, Ashok Desai, Ganesh Jadhav, Anil Jadhav, and Prashant Thamke, among others.

Speaking to the press, Piraji Sankpal, a resident of Wadanage, explained, “The land known as ‘Agricultural Survey No. 89’ in Wadanage belongs to the Gram Panchayat. The Waqf Board claimed this land 25 years ago, and the hearing has been ongoing. Due to the Gram Panchayat administration’s failure to present its case, the land has been transferred to the Waqf Board. In protest, all the Hindus in the village observed a bandh. This situation has arisen because of the Gram Panchayat administration’s questionable role in the case.”

The Waqf Board has been involved in numerous land grabs across Bharat. Furthermore, it has arbitrarily declared ownership over lands, including entire villages. It is high time the government steps in and reins in the Waqf Board. There is also an urgent need to revisit the Waqf Act enacted by Congress in keeping with its Muslim appeasement policy.

(Featured Image Source: Loksatta)