Bangalore, Sep 6 (DHNS): The BJP and Bazm-e-Qasmi, a body of Muslim clerics with links to Darul Uloom Deoband, have joined hands for what they described as a campaign to clear encroachments on Wakf properties across the country.

Anwar Manippaddy, BJP leader and former chairman of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission, told reporters here that a nationwide ceremony would be launched on September 14 to celebrate the recovery of Wakf property at Harohalli Garubaidoddi village in Ramanagar district.

The ceremony titled ‘Jeet Jashn’ (Victory Celebration) is being organised by Bazm-e-Qasmi, and Union ministers from Karnataka, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and BJP State president Pralhad Joshi will be in attendance. Several Muslim leaders will also take part.

“This is a unique achievement because Wakf property has been reclaimed for the first time anywhere in India,” Manippady said. “We need to spread this message that Wakf property will always remain with the Wakf board as per a Supreme Court order. Lakhs of acres of land belonging to the Wakf board have been encroached upon across the country.”

Manippady, whose book on cattle protection titled ‘Gou Sampattu mattu Rashtreeya Arthikathe’ (Cattle wealth and national economy) was released by senior RSS and BJP leaders in August 2011, said the reclaiming of Wakf land in Ramanagar district was just the beginning and many more properties would be recovered in the days to come.

Nearly 70 acres of Wakf land in Haveri, Idgah land in Chikkaballapur besides properties in Gulbarga will be recovered soon.

“We have identified nine more properties and since hearing in court cases is over, we are confident of a favourable judgement. With this, we hope to recover about 1,000 acres of Wakf land in the next six months,” he said.

Township on Wakf land

A model township will come up on the Wakf land reclaimed at Garubaidoddi. A total of 2,000 houses will be constructed for the poor.

A school, a hospital, a madrasa and small-scale industries will be set up with the help of the State government and the Centre, Manippady said.

At least 25 per cent of the houses will be allotted to people of other communities. “The land earlier belonged to the Wakf board and about 600 families were living there. A sugar company later evicted them and encroached upon the land. The evictees will get the proposed houses,” Manippady added.