Days after the bill to amend the Waqf Board Act was tabled in Parliament and subsequently reviewed by the JPC for further improvements, Tamil Nadu Waqf Board President Abdul Rahman claimed that several Hindu temples, including the Peyalwar Temple, are located on Waqf properties, such as land allegedly owned by the Kutchery Road Mosque. He stated that the Waqf Board has never disputed the existence of these temples or interfered with their operations.
On 8th August, after the bill was tabled in Parliament, where Minister Kiran Rijiju mentioned Thiruchendurai village and the Waqf Board’s claim to several hundred acres, including the 1,500-year-old Shiva temple, the collector clarified that there were no restrictions on people selling their lands and NoC from Wakf is not required.
The situation in Balasamudram is similarly concerning, as the Waqf Board has claimed ownership of the entire village of Thiruchendurai, which, according to their records, spans 389 acres. Balasamudram Municipality is located in the Palani area of the Dindigul district.
Speaking to reporters earlier, Abdul Rahman affirmed that both the village and the 1,500-year-old temple were properties of the Waqf Board. However, after the bill to amend Waqf properties was introduced, he made a U-turn, stating that only some of the land belonged to the Waqf Board.
At a press conference on 11 August 2024, Abdul Rahman clarified the status of Tiruchendurai village. He explained that a wealthy Mirasdar had donated 385 acres of land for public use, which is registered with the Waqf Board. He said this information is documented and recorded with the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board. He also noted that Tiruchendurai has since expanded to over 600 acres. The Waqf Board’s authority is limited to reclaiming land it owns, and any suggestion that the Waqf Board is seeking to claim the entire village is misleading and creates unnecessary panic among the public. He emphasized that the Waqf Board has not made such claims.
WAQF board claiming PeyAzhwar’s Avathara sthalam as their is a Brutal Joke
PeyAzhwar was born in Mylapore, Chennai and there are two temples dedicated to him, in that area ! pic.twitter.com/IUYeLt1Xl4
— Tinku Venkatesh | ಟಿಂಕು ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ್ (@tweets_tinku) August 14, 2024
Apart from places like Thiruchenthurai, Kadiakurichi, Erode, and Balasamudram in Dindigul district, there is a concern in the Chennai area where lands have been claimed by the Waqf board. It claims ownership of half a dozen villages, including some temple lands.
On August 12th, residents of the Vannarapet (old washermenpet) in Tirunelveli urged authorities to take action against threats issued in the name of the Waqf board over their properties. A delegation led by an advocate and the Hindu Munnani state secretary sent a memorandum to the District Collectorate.
Another Muslim leader claimed that the waqf board owns lands and properties in Chennai, particularly near Raj Bhavan, as well as roughly 17 kilometers from Anna Flyover to Meenambakkam Airport.
The DMK’s Trichy office is alleged to be on waqf land, while the DMK’s mouthpiece Murasoli’s was allegedly built on Panchami land; a case is pending in which the DMK is dragging its feet by failing to produce parent documents.
In a recent press conference in Nagapattinam, Abdul Rahman stated, “During the British era, the Waqf Board was established to manage lands voluntarily donated by wealthy individuals to maintain dargahs and mosques.” He stressed that the “Waqf Board has never opposed Hindu temples situated on Waqf properties” and regards such temples with pride.
Abdul Rahman stated, “The Waqf does not even claim the presence of a temple on Waqf property.” He used the example of Sooriyur, a big village in Trichy district that is one of seven Waqf-managed villages. He stated that “eight to nine lakes surround a thousand-year-old temple.” According to the documents, the temple and surrounding lakes are owned by Hindus for worship and should be maintained. As a result, we are not disputing it.
The waqf board chief stated that the Chennai Kutchery Road Mosque, which owns 144 grounds, includes a 4-acre plot of land on which the Peyazhwar shrine is located. He questioned if the Waqf Board had ever claimed the land. Pey Azhvar, one of the twelve Alvar saints of the Vaishnavite sect who sung songs about their adored deity in Tamil, is ranked third among the major Azhvars. According to legend, Pey Azhvar was unearthed at the Adi Kesava Perumal Temple in Mylapore, Chennai.
Abdul Rahman said, “Chennai’s Kutchery Road Mosque owns 144 acres of land, among which four grounds contain a temple called Peyazhwar Temple or something like that. It is on waqf property. Have we ever talked about it? The Hindus worship there, so we are keeping it as it is.”
Rahman said the lands donated by wealthy individuals were meant for public benefit and should be viewed from a religiously neutral perspective. Ironically, he further argued that while the temple belongs to Hindus, the land is under the Waqf Board’s jurisdiction, which has a duty to protect these lands. He did not address how these ancient properties came under Waqf’s control.
It is a fact that the Mogul invaders not only destroyed temples for their wealth but also took over the lands. Britishers, it said, while leaving Bharat, given the government lands to Christians to build churches and residences and also to Muslims. Hill stations, where even today most of the tea estates and prime lands are owned by Christians.
The recent claims by Tamil Nadu Waqf Board President Abdul Rahman have been widely perceived as intimidating and unfounded. His assertions of Waqf ownership over large areas, including historic Hindu temples and entire villages, lack credible evidence and seem intended to provoke fear and confusion. Rahman’s reversal on the extent of Waqf land ownership only adds to the controversy, suggesting that his statements are more about exerting control and creating unrest rather than reflecting legal or historical reality.
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