The Idgah Maidan controversy appears to be a part of the bigger agenda of encroachments upon the autonomy of madrasas and the ownership of Idgahs and Masjids.
Laeequllah Khan Mansoori
BENGALURU—On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled to maintain the status quo in the Idgah Maidan case, denying Ganesha Chaturthi permission in Chamrajapete in Bangalore, as proposed by the Karnataka government.
Over the years, 2.1-hectare land in the middle of Chamrajapete, one of Bengaluru’s oldest settlements, has been designated as Waqf’s property.
(Meanwhile, the Karnataka high court allowed the holding of Ganesh Chaturthi function in the Hubbali Idgah maidan. The high court passed the order at 11.30 pm after the SC order in Bengaluru Idgah case. The high court statied that the Hubbali Idgah Maidan was different from the case of Bengaluru Idgah Maidan in which Supreme Court denied permission to hold Ganesh Chaturthi function.)
Although it has been in use as a playground for all, there is also an Idgah for prayer during the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. Maps of Bengaluru and the documents from 1871 to 1938 also show that there are Idgah and burial grounds.
However, the land is disputed by two parties. Two months ago, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Parike (BBMP) claimed the playground as its own. Meanwhile, Muslim organizations claimed that the land actually belonged to the Wakf Board of Karnataka.
According to the BBMP, Idgah Maidan was designated as an urban community playground and civic property according to the 1974 Metropolitan Census. The BBMP also claimed that the Karnataka State Board of Auqaf did not participate in the 1974 city investigation, nor did Muslim organizations claim ownership of the disputed lands. The BBMP claims that it has owned the disputed land since 2006, as it has not been transferred to the organization’s name. It has also built sidewalks, public toilets, and drinking fountains around the Maidan, the BBMP claims.
Controversy erupted again in June 2022 after Hindutva organizations asked the BBMP for permission to hold celebrations during Ganesh Chaturthi, Dasara, and Deepavali. The Karnataka Wakf Board claims that this 2.1-acre land in dispute is registered as a Wakf property since the 1850s. The Wakf claims are further supported by the records of the Central Muslim Association, which has been the caretaker since 1964.
After months of asserting its disputed claim to Idgah Maidan in Chamarajapete, the BBMP made a dramatic turn and gave up its claim to the land in June. At a press conference on 22 June 2022, the BBMP commissioner Tushar Giri Nath said: “We do not own the land, but had the Maidan in our possession.” Quoting the city survey records from years after 1964, the BBMP said that the body acted as the owner of the land and claimed that a page was missing from the court order copy, which upheld the petition by Muslim parties.
Soon after the SC order, security was beefed up in and around Idgah maidan in Bengaluru’s Chamarajapete, as Hindutva groups called for a bandh.
Welcoming the SC order on Chamrajapete Idgah Maidan, the Karnataka Wakf Board Chairman Shafi Saadi said, “The Supreme Court order to maintain status quo at the Idgah Maidan has brought relief to the Wakf Board, which has been saying that the property belongs to the Board. With the Apex Court order, in the future, the ground can be used only for namaz and as a children’s play area. Except these two, no other activities should take place”.
Blaming the BBMP joint commissioner for creating confusion by declaring it as a revenue property, the chairman has demanded action against the joint commissioner. He also clarified that Muslims are not against the Ganesha festival. “But the festival should not be held at the Idgah Maidan. My duty is to protect Wakf’s property. I did the same by approaching the Supreme Court,” he said.
Meanwhile, Revenue Minister R. Ashoka has said that the government will comply with the Supreme Court’s directive to maintain the status quo, but asserted that the land in question cannot become “the property of any one religion.” He also pointed out that the Supreme Court has not given any decision on the ownership of the ground. “We will file an appeal in the High Court on the ownership matter. I’m confident that the government will find victory in the High Court”, he asserted.
Former state minister and Chamrajpet MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan has lauded the efforts of the Wakf chairman and the lawyers in pursuing the case. He has affirmed that he will concentrate on maintaining peace in the region and working for the development of all classes.
After the SC order on the issue, the imam of the City Jamia Masjid Moulana Maqsood Imran Rashadi has appealed to the youngsters to avoid celebrations through processions or crackers. He, instead, requested to offer thanksgiving prayers. He has congratulated the MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan and advocate Ismail Zabihullah and advocate Kapil Sibal for their tireless efforts in the matter.
It has been observed that deliberate attempts are being made to polarize the atmosphere by raking up sensitive issues on a regular basis to promote hatred and enmity among different communities and create a divide in society. It is high time the government realizes the responsibility of ensuring “sub ka Vishwas” in its citizens and stopping the damaging tactics of targeting a particular community for political gains.
