Mosque in Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) declared as enemy property

The mosque was built on the land of Pakistan’s first PM Liaquat Ali Khan’s family

(Enemy property means property left in India by people migrating to Pakistan after partition)

Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) – The mosque built in front of the railway station has been declared as ‘enemy property’ after investigations. A mosque and 4 shops were built on the land of Pakistan’s first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan’s family. Mr Sanjay Arora, the convener of ‘Rashtriya Hindu Shakti Sangathan’ had lodged a complaint with Arvind Mallappa Bangari, District Collector, that there was illegal encroachment on the land by building of a mosque and shops. The Muslim party, however, claimed that the land was transferred in the name of Waqf in 1930.

1. After registering the complaint, the then District Collector, Dy District Collector (Revenue), City Magistrate, City Chief Officer and the Chief Officer of the Municipality had conducted an inquiry into this matter. Later, this team sent its investigation report to the ‘Enemy Property’ office in Delhi. A team was sent thereafter by the Union Government’s ‘Enemy Property’ office for conducting a survey. Considering the findings of both sides, an order was issued to declare the property as ‘Enemy Property’.

2. Muslim side had claimed that the property belonged to the Waqf Board and the rent of the shops registered under licence no 930 was being deposited with the Waqf Board. A letter dated 10th November 1937 was also submitted to the investigation team claiming ownership of the property with the Waqf Board.

3. Based on the investigations, however, the property was found to be ‘Enemy Property’. Mr Vikas Kashyap, City Magistrate informed that the claimants of the property would be served notice and if it was not vacated even after the notice, it would be vacated as per the legal procedure.

Editorial Perspective

Why didn’t the then Congress Government take it over by declaring it as enemy property after independence ? It is another example of Congress’ anti-national appeasement policy that has created innumerable problems in India.