Criticising the Waqf Board’s declare that the Mahakumbh-2025 was being organised on its land, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday mentioned “if someone now calls this land Waqf Board property, we must ask whether it belongs to the Waqf Board or land mafias”.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. (HT file)
He underlined the necessity to curb such malicious tendencies, saying, “We will put an end to this. Kumbh has been held on this land in Prayagraj for thousands of years. It is unacceptable for anyone to undermine the faith of millions by claiming it is Waqf land.”
“If the term ‘Waqf’ appears, we examine the original ownership and take steps to reclaim the land. Public-use properties, lands of holy places associated with Hindu faith, or government-owned land will not be allowed to fall into the hands of any so-called land mafia boards,” the CM mentioned.
He mentioned the land of Kumbh would stay devoted to its goal, offering a sacred area for sadhus and different pilgrims in the course of the occasion.
Yogi mentioned many people whose ancestors embraced Islam beneath particular historic circumstances nonetheless take satisfaction in India’s traditions. “They identify their gotras with the names of Indian sadhus, participate in festivals, and cherish their cultural roots. If such people come to take a holy dip in the Sangam out of tradition and devotion, they are most welcome,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, he warned in opposition to anybody arriving to say possession over the land, stating, “Those who claim this land as theirs and seek to occupy it may face consequences, including corrective action.”
On the difficulty of the Jama Masjid in Sambhal, the CM identified discrepancies in claims relating to land possession. “There are assertions that more land than the entire Sambhal district belongs to the Waqf Board, which is absurd. Our Puranas document that over 5,000 years ago, Sambhal was prophesied as the birthplace of Kalki, the tenth incarnation of Lord Vishnu,” he mentioned.
“Everything in Sambhal today is rooted in Sanatan Dharma. Five thousand years ago, there was no Islam on this earth, so how could there be a mention of Jama Masjid in that era,” Yogi requested.