Different state Waqf boards have claimed 120 monuments, opposition MPs got angry when ASI told this in JPC meeting

New Delhi : There was a heated atmosphere during the meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Wakf Amendment Bill on Friday. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) claimed that the Wakf Boards of different states are staking claim on more than 120 monuments under its protection. Some of these monuments have been declared protected by the ASI even before independence. After this statement of the ASI, there was a heated exchange between the members of the ruling party and the opposition. Our associate Economic Times has reported, quoting sources, that in the first session of the meeting, there was an altercation between some opposition and BJP members. The ASI had to face sharp questions from both sides. Opposition members accused the Ministry of Culture, which oversees the ASI, of misleading. They said that the ministry was spreading false information of ‘WhatsApp University’.

In its presentation, the ASI presented a list of 53 monuments on which the Waqf Boards are staking their claim. Some of these were declared Waqf properties almost a century after the ASI declared them protected. The ASI has been in existence since before Independence. Opposition members also targeted the Secretary of the Ministry of Culture.

Earlier, a JPC meeting was held on Thursday on the Waqf Bill and there was a heated argument between the ruling party and the opposition. In Thursday’s meeting, opposition members questioned what was the need to bring the bill. At one point during the meeting, the heated atmosphere increased so much that JPC Chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal had to intervene and pacify the MPs. Many officials including Urban Development and Transport Secretary Anurag Jain, Railway Board Chairman Satish Gautam, Railway Board Member (Infrastructure) Anil Kumar Khandelwal attended the meeting.

During this time, the officials also gave a presentation in front of the MPs. They informed that the Waqf Board is claiming 200 government properties in the National Capital Region as its own. During this, JPC member and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said that the Waqf Board is claiming even enemy properties. he/she said that the government wants to ensure that the Waqf Board is used only for religious and public welfare works, and not for personal interest.