Waqf  Claim on  Maha Kumbh land created tension, Naga Sadhus are ready to take action, if Muslims enter in Kumbh.

Now Waqf  Claim on  Maha Kumbh land.  Islamic Cleric Fires Salvo. Sinister Design to Disrupt Maha Kumbh.  Hindu Seers Vehemently React.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | New Delhi | Jan 6, 2025:: Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, President of the All India Muslim Jamat, has sparked controversy by claiming that the upcoming Prayagraj Maha Kumbh event is being held on land owned by the Waqf Board. He alleges that 54 bighas of waqf land are being used for the Hindu religious event.

Barelvi lauds the Muslim community in Prayagraj for allowing the event to take place on what he claims is Waqf land, showing their “large-heartedness.” However, he criticizes the decision of the All India Akhara Parishad and Naga Sadhus to bar non-Hindus from attending the event, terming it “majoritarian”.

The claim that the Maha Kumbh Mela is being held on Waqf land is indeed surprising, given the ancient origins of the festival. The Kumbh Mela has been a significant Hindu pilgrimage and festival for thousands of years, with its roots dating back to the Samudra Manthana legend in Hindu mythology .

Historical records show that the festival has been celebrated at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) for centuries. In fact, the Magh Mela, a precursor to the Kumbh Mela, has been mentioned in several ancient Puranas and has been celebrated in Prayagraj since the early centuries CE.  

It’s absurd that modern concepts of Waqf encroachments on non-Muslim lands are now being applied to the Maha Kumbh Mela, held on the banks of the River Ganga. This ancient festival, which has been organized for thousands of years, is the world’s largest congregation, with a history that predates the advent of Islam. Given the festival’s long history and cultural significance, it’s clear that the Maha Kumbh Mela is an integral part of Hindu tradition and heritage, which is under the scanner of fundamental Muslims to disrupt it in the name of Waqf.  

The Waqf Board has previously made contentious claims, asserting ownership of prominent properties, including the Delhi Airport, Kolkata Airport, Indian Parliament House, Calcutta High Court, Fort William and Eden Gardens in Kolkata and an entire village in Tamil Nadu, which houses a 1,500-year-old Hindu temple. The list is inconclusive. These absurd claims have been made without hesitation or shame.

Hindu leaders have reacted sharply to Barelvi’s claims, with Swami Chakrapani Maharaj, president of the Hindu Mahasabha, calling the statement “baseless” and “malicious.” Vinod Bansal, national spokesperson of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), also slammed Barelvi’s claims, saying that the Maha Kumbh has been organized since ancient times, long before Islam existed.

Dr Charudutta Pingale of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti urged the government to arrest Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi for his misleading statement just before the Maha Kumbh to rise a sinister design to disrupt Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. 

Taking his X handle, Socio-Political analyst and Indologist Dr  Anand Ranganathan urged the Union Government to abrogate the Waqf Act instead of amending it by the Parliament. 

Strong Hindu reactions unfurling

Tensions are running high around the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, with severe reactions emerging against Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi’s claim that the event is being held on Waqf land  as the president of the All India Muslim Jamat alleged that 54 bighas of land being used for the Hindu religious gathering belong to the Waqf Board, sparking outrage among Hindu leaders.

Sadhvi Rithambara, founder of Param Shakti Peeth and Vatsalyagram, criticized Razvi’s claim, stating that the Maha Kumbh is a place to attain spiritual merit and that all properties under the Waqf board should be transferred to the government. Acharya Satyendra Das, Chief Priest of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, also disputed Razvi’s assertion, arguing that the Kumbh Mela has a long history that predates Islam.

The situation has become increasingly volatile, with Naga sadhus reportedly ready to take action if Muslim groups attempt to enter the Kumbh Mela by force. The controversy has deepened the already strained religious sentiments associated with the festival, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
..
__Inputs from Agencies.