Gol Gumbaz , one of 53 historic monuments claimed by the Karnataka Waqf Board: Report

According to the Deccan Herald, the Karnataka Waqf Board has claimed at least 53 ancient sites around the state, including the well-known Gol Gumbaz, Ibrahim Rauza, and Bara Kaman in Vijayapura, as well as forts in Bidar and Kalaburagi.The study states that the Board formally designated forty-three monuments in Vijayapura, the historic capital of the Adil Shahi dynasty, as Waqf holdings in 2005. The research also noted that several of these monuments have now been changed and encroached upon.

The Waqf Board recognized these sites as Waqf holdings based on the identical Record of Rights (ROR) papers possessed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), according to a Right to Information (RTI) response that Deccan Herald was able to get. But according to the ASI, this was carried out without its consent or consultation. The Waqf Board has also made claims to other ASI-protected structures, such as the Masjid-i-Ala in Srirangapatna, four in the Bengaluru circle, and six in the Hampi circle, the article continues.

According to a statement from the chief minister’s office, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave revenue department staff instructions on Saturday to immediately revoke notices sent to farmers regarding Waqf land claims.According to a statement from the chief minister’s office, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave revenue department staff instructions on Saturday to immediately revoke notices sent to farmers regarding Waqf land claims.

“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,” the CMO statement said.

The order came days after protests, that began in Vijayapura and soon spread to Dharwad and Kalaburagi, over notices that asked farmers to submit land records to prove ownership or ownership would be transferred to the Waqf Board.