In the flames of Bengal, the poor Hindus pay the price

By: Salil Gewali

In the storm of politics, if nothing else, peace has become the first casualty of the Waqf Board Amendment Bill. It doesn’t take an expert to figure out why Waqf property has become so desirable to many people over the years. Frankly and tragically, many among the powerful and wealthy have long treated Waqf property as a personal treasure chest rather than a sacred trust. Sadly, such hard truths are seldom brought to light.

Waqf property, rooted in Islamic tradition, was donated by the benevolent to serve humanity — to uplift the underprivileged, fund their education, support religious institutions, and offer relief to the needy. But over time, that noble purpose has been clouded by narrow political agendas and personal ambition. Successive amendments, largely driven by political motives, have done nothing to restore the original “sanctity” of the Waqf Board. Instead, they’ve often strengthened the very structures that provide leverage for exploitation. Of course, the creation of the Waqf Board was a sacred initiative to ensure that these lands were properly managed, regulated, and used in line with Islamic values. But somewhere between intent and implementation, ethics were sidelined, and greed took the wheel!

Today, Waqf land holdings have ballooned into over 9 lakhs of acres. Rather than being a blessing, they've become a battleground for corruption, encroachment, exploitation, and mindless harassment. Illegal encroachments, unauthorized leases, and glaring misuse of property for personal gain have eroded public trust and stripped away the moral essence of what Waqf stands for.

Even the highly learned Governor of Bihar, Arif Mohammad Khan, couldn’t help but point out the administrative mess within the board. He warned that if the amendment bill hadn’t been introduced now, we might have been staring at an even bigger disaster. Quoting the holy book, he reiterated that Waqf property should be used for religious, charitable, and welfare activities for the weaker sections of society—but instead, it has been unethically diverted for various unholy purposes. He cited many such examples where Waqf Board properties have been misused with impunity, while speaking to media outlets.

Many top Islamic organizations are equally unhappy with the functioning of Waqf Boards, as they have been hijacked by political leaders, unscrupulous members and land mafias. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, laments: "Earlier, whoever was at the top of the Board used to collaborate with the land mafias and illegally sell the properties to them. This was totally against the sole purpose of the board. The purpose was to benefit those in need --- poor Muslims, widows, etc. Instead, the proceeds went into the pockets of those illegally selling the properties." A noted Supreme Court advocate and erudite Islamic scholar, Nazia Elahi Khan, revealed in various media programs how religious dogmatism among certain Maulanas and political leaders has contributed to recurring riots and anarchy across the country.

Worse still, in states like Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, ordinary farmers—many from non-Muslim communities—have found their lands suddenly being labeled as Waqf property. Several Muslim groups have taken to the streets, issuing threats to Hindu communities, while political parties openly instigate tensions and pour fuel on the fire. Shockingly, even Hindu temple properties and Gurudwaras have reportedly been claimed under the Waqf Board. For countless impoverished farming families across the nation, it’s been nothing short of a nightmare. Imagine the anguish of discovering that land you purchased with your hard-earned money is suddenly claimed by third parties as Waqf property.  Wouldn’t that bring one to a suicidal state? Surely, causing agony and trauma to the poor is not what pleases the Almighty in heaven. In the village of Munambam in Ernakulam district, around 600 poor Christian families are now crying out for justice after discovering that their ancestral land has been claimed under the Waqf Board. Tensions have risen in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, after the Waqf Board allegedly staked claim to an entire village, issuing notices to 150 families and declaring their land as Waqf property.

As responsible citizens of a democratic country, we must be unbiased and humane in our reflection. When a sacred trust becomes a political weapon in the hands of unscrupulous leaders, who truly suffers? It is undoubtedly the weaker sections of society. What is happening in Murshidabad, Malda, and Nadia in West Bengal clearly sends chills down the spine. Let me ask — did the three Hindu individuals killed in the riot ever utter a word against the Waqf Board? Why were the administrative authorities so unprepared, or so lenient, toward the likely rioters — the Muslim mobs allegedly supported by TMC cadres?

Properties belonging to poor Hindu Bengali families have been deliberately torched and destroyed, alongside widespread damage to government infrastructure. Why were only Hindu-owned properties singled out? The rioters seemed to have no fear of the police baton—why such impunity? Now, thousands of terrified people are fleeing Dhuliyan (Murshidabad), desperate to escape the rising tide of violence and unrest. In a moment of deep frustration, noted writer and journalist Dr. Debanjan Banerjee of Kolkata posed a piercing question: "Where are all those so-called intellectuals now, when Bengal is witnessing a wave of targeted carnage against Hindus—entire homes reduced to ashes by violent mobs, temples vandalized, and lives shattered? The silence is deafening. A complete breakdown of law and order is unfolding before our eyes—admitted even by an MP of the ruling party. Government and private properties, offices, railway stations, BDO offices, ambulances, buses, police vehicles, scooters, bikes, and private cars have all been set ablaze. It’s not unrest—it’s anarchy. And yet, the same columnists who beat their chests in outrage when a Hindu dares to raise a hand in self-defence are nowhere to be found. Their selective outrage speaks louder than their words ever did."

Given her past record, for Mamata Banerjee, any amount of bloodshed seems less frightening than losing her vote bank. Her proverbial soft stance toward those who vote for her has contributed to the Basirhat riot and Malda riot. The Bengal Chief Minister, with her ascetic white sari and sandals, has never felt guilty, nor has she learned a lesson from the shocking rape incidents in Sandeshkhali and at R.G. Kar Medical College, victimizing countless innocent people, especially women, in the process.

If law and order had not been compromised by the TMC government, such abominable incidents might never have come to pass. What is unfortunate now is that Didi, along with other leaders in the country, is roaring to bake a political cake in the heat of the Waqf Board controversy. They seem far more concerned with consolidating power than upholding democratic principles. At every step, the Bengal Chief Minister demonstrates warmth and affection for the Muslim communities while openly disregarding the sentiments and cultural ethos of Hindu Bengalis. One wonders why the custodians of the Constitution appear so powerless to restrain leaders whose moral failings drag democracy to the edge, leaving the poor to bleed in silence.

About Author: A writer and researcher based in Shillong, Salil Gewali is best known for his research-based work, Great Minds on India, which has earned worldwide appreciation. His book has been translated into fifteen languages and edited by a former NASA scientist, Dr. AV Murali of Houston, USA. Gewali is also a member of the International Human Rights Commission Zürich, Switzerland.