The J&K Waqf Board has taken a tough stance against land grabbers who have encroached on the land of Eidgah in Srinagar. The Board has announced that it will restore all of the land that has been grabbed by vested interests and land mafia over the years.
It is concerning that a large portion of the Waqf land belonging to Eidgah in Srinagar has been grabbed by people who have constructed their houses and business establishments there. It is good to see that the Board Chairperson, Dr. Darkshan Andrabi, has taken the stock of the situation and has warned that no leniency will be shown to those who have grabbed the Waqf land, no matter how influential they may be. It is also promising that the J&K Waqf Board has declared that it will restore all the land of the Eidgah that has been encroached upon by vested elements and land mafia over the years.
Dr Andrabi warned that every inch of Waqf land will be restored and land grabbers will be evicted. She said that a team of Board will visit the area within two days to take stock of the situation and get the encroachments removed fully.
Maintaining that Eidgah is the face of Srinagar city and it is the prime land so nobody will be allowed to grab it. She said the people who have grabbed the Waqf land should voluntary vacate their possession before facing lawful action.
Dr Andrabi said during her visit to the Eidgah, she was informed by the youth of the area that its maximum land has been grabbed and before initiating cleanliness and making arrangements for holding Eid prayers in Eidgah, the Board should restore the hundreds Kanals of land of the Waqf grabbed by people over the years.
Dr Andrabi assured the youth that the Board will turn tough against the land grabbers and get entire encroached land restored to Eidgah. She said this year all efforts will be made to hold Eid prayers at Eidgah, Srinagar provided weather remains clear. The cleanliness of the Eidgah will also be started within days, she added.
The Chairperson of the Board also demanded that the control of two Islamic Universities in the J&K UT existing on Waqf land be also given to J&K Waqf Board like that of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University of Katra, Jammu over which Shrine Board has full control.
She said, the two Universities including Islamia University of Awantipora, Pulwama in Kashmir Valley and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri in Jammu region exist on Waqf land. She said the 250 kanals of Waqf land which is on the name of renowned Sofi saint of Awantipora whose shrine falls on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been allotted to Islamia University in the area and also the Waqf Board has paid Rs 250 crore to the University for its development.
Likewise the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University at Rajouri totally exists on Waqf land and over hundreds of crore of rupees were given to the University by the Board but both the varsities don’t fall under the control of the Waqf Board.
Dr Andrabi said that Board has no problem that the two Universities be run by University Grants Commission (UGC) but the Board should also have control over them as the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine has control over Mata Vaishno Devi University.
Dr Andrabi said that Board will strive hard to seek control over two varsities. She said while paying the funds to the two varsities the Board had no money to pay salaries of its employees but in return it got nothing.
The Board Chairperson said that a delegation of Muftis also met her today who gave various suggestions and the Board will definitely take cognizance of their good suggestions for smooth running of religious shrines in J&K.
