The Waqf assets include 280 heritage monuments in the country

Many changes made to the monuments in violation of the Archaeological Survey of India’s law

New Delhi – After the Joint Parliamentary Committee submitted its report on the Waqf Amendment Bill to Parliament, it was tabled in both the Houses of Parliament on 13^th February. After this, there was an uproar. In this report, 280 important heritage monuments of the country have been declared as the property of the Waqf Board. These include monuments like Qutub Minar, Feroz Shah Kotla, Purana Fort, Humayun’s Tomb (Thadge), Jahanara Begum’s Tomb, the Iron Pillar in the Qutub Minar area and Iltutmish’s Tomb. The list of these was submitted to the committee by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The ASI told the committee that the Waqf Board did not allow us to preserve the monuments. They changed them as per their own wishes. The Archaeological Act was violated. In the name of privacy, entry to the monuments was prohibited. Photography, souvenirs, etc. were allowed to be sold there. Construction was done by changing the original structure. Shops were built and they were rented out.

Editorial Perspectives

• It is a crime to make any changes to monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India when it is prohibited. A case should be registered against the Waqf Board officials and they should be put in jail.

• Please note that the Archaeological Survey of India, which keeps ancient Hindu temples under control and prevents Hindus from worshipping, only turn its back on Muslims.