The Waqf Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Waqf’s property ranks third in the country after Railways and Army. Discussion is also going on where the Waqf property is spread. Meanwhile, a shocking information about Waqf property has been revealed in West Bengal. It is being claimed that from Eden Garden to Fort William, Mahakaran and even half of the Alipur Zoo is the property of Waqf.
This claim may seem incredible, but this is the truth. Waqf properties are spread across the country. West Bengal also has huge assets. A section of Waqf claims that a part of Kolkata Airport, Raj Bhavan, Eden Gardens, Fort William, Mahakaran and Alipur Zoo is actually the assets of Waqf. The list also includes the lands of Mohun Bagan Club, East Bengal and Mohammedan Club.
Questions raised in Rajya Sabha
BJP spokesperson Kaya Ghosh said that a Trinamool MLA and religious leader has claimed that the Eden Garden, Raj Bhavan and the entire South Kolkata Waqf. But there is no evidence for this claim. Recently, BJP MP Shamik Bhattacharya raised questions in the Rajya Sabha regarding the state’s Waqf property.
80548 Waqf properties in Bengal
How many Waqf properties of the state have been used for education or health objectives? Responding to this question, Union Minorities Development Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the total number of Waqf properties in West Bengal is 80,548. Currently 380 Waqf properties are occupied. The Waqf Board also charges fare for them. According to the information of the Center, two specific clubs of Kolkata, Royal Calcutta Golf Club and Toliganj Club are also located on Waqf property, for them they have to pay rent. Both clubs were paid 18 lakh 88 thousand 224 rupees annually.
Hospitals are built on Waqf properties, madrasas
Kiren Rijiju also told which Waqf properties have been used for the benefit of common people. It is known that model English medium madrasas have been made on 4 Waqf properties in West Bengal. 19 properties are hostels for Muslim men and women, 9 properties are hospitals and dispensaries, and 158 properties are schools. In addition, a shopping complex has been built on a Waqf property in Patharchapari of Birbhum.