After Taj, Wakf Eyes 65 Heritage Structures

VADODARA: After claiming ownership of Taj Mahal, Wakf Board now claims its rights over 65 monuments in Gujarat under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)'s protection.
Central Wakf Council (CWC) recently sent a list of 89 monuments to ASI including Siddi Saiyed ni jaali, Rani Sipri Masjid, Rani no Hajiro' in Ahmedabad, Qutb-ud-din Mehmood Khan's tomb in Vadodara and Kevada and Nagina Masjids situated in Champaner-Pavagadh, declared as World Heritage site by UNESCO.
ASI, which for decades has been protecting these monuments, is upset over CWC's claims and has held two rounds of meetings with Wakf officials in Gujarat to resolve the matter.
"We have received the communication. It is in initial stages and the matter can be resolved only after meeting the concerned authorities," said ASI's Vadodara circle superintendent Shivananda V.
ASI first got the signals of the dispute in early October last year when Ahmedabad Sunni Muslim Wakf Committee (ASMWC) sent a list of eight monuments including the tomb of Ahmed Shah, Rani no Hajiro, Siddi Saiyed Mosque, Rani Sipri Masjid, Rani Rupmati Mosque, tomb near Rani Rupmati Mosque, Muhafiz Khan Mosque and Jammi Masjid claiming them to be properties owned by Wakf.
Later, Vadodara circle replied to the communiqu? informing that as per Bombay Presidency gazette published by Government of India (GOI) in 1928, only Muhafiz Khan Mosque and Jammi Masjid were under management of Wakf whereas other monuments were transferred to ASI by GOI since then.
But, the list of monuments claimed by Wakf only got longer as ASI's Vadodara circle received another communiqu? from CWC, the umbrella body of all Wakf committees of the country, saying as many as 89 monuments in Gujarat are that of Wakf.
Chief executive officer (CEO) of Gujarat State Wakf Board AK Ansari supported CWC's claims stating that all masjids and dargahs mentioned in the list of protected sites on ASI's official web-site www.asi.nic.in are Wakf properties.
"On what basis do they claim rights over these monuments?" questions renowned archaeologist professor VH Sonawane. "It is a known fact that any structure, be it a masjid or a temple, that is 100 years old is a monument. Once, GOI has notified it as protected monument, there is no question of claiming rights over it."
prashant.rupera@timesgroup.com