The growing media narratives and propaganda of LAND JIHAD, WAQF TERROR is just a propaganda said prominent lawyers at Kolkata Press Club.
Kolkata, Press Club
December 5, 2024
A coalition of Indian lawyers convened a press conference at the Kolkata Press Club to counter the growing media narratives and propaganda against Waqf. The lawyers strongly criticized terms such as “Land Jihad” and “Waqf Terror” labeling them as unfounded and contrary to established legal principles.
“Media Narratives Lack Legal Basis”
Advocate Khurshid Alam, an LLM graduate from Azim Premji University and the Convenor of the Lawyers of Waqf Forum, emphasized that current media narratives on Waqf are not rooted in legal judgments but in one-sided claims.
“It is important to understand that claims—whether made by Waqf Boards, farmers, or individuals—are adjudicated by judicial authorities such as Waqf Tribunals, High Courts, or the Supreme Court. However, media outlets are creating entire narratives based on claims, not judicial facts,” said Adv Khurshid Alam.
He cited key judgments, including Sri Chennu Radha Krishna vs. Telangana Waqf Board (2024), where the Telangana High Court ruled that 300 acres of land encroached by Sri Chennu Radha Krishna rightfully belonged to the Waqf Board. Similarly, in Punjab Waqf Board vs. Gram Panchayat (2023), the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld the Waqf Tribunal’s ruling that land contested by the Gram Panchayat was indeed Waqf property.
“Judgments like these unequivocally affirm that Waqf Boards are often victims of encroachment,” Adv Khrushid Alam stated.
Commission Reports Highlight Widespread Encroachments
Advocate Ataul Mustafa, a practicing civil lawyer, referred to the Sachar Committee Report, which, on Page 243 and Appendix 11.1, lists over 600 Waqf properties encroached by entities such as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), government institutions, and private organizations across India. He also pointed to the BJP government’s 2019 Follow-Up Action Report, which mentions ASI efforts to address encroachments on 267 properties based on Sachar Committee recommendations.
Further corroboration came from a Lok Sabha reply by then-Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who disclosed that 58,929 Waqf properties were under encroachment, and Waqf Boards were actively working to reclaim them. Mustafa also cited findings from the Nissar Commission in Kerala, which reported similar trends of encroachment.
“These reports and government acknowledgments confirm that Waqf is not encroaching upon others’ lands but is, in fact, it is the primary victim of encroachments,” Mustafa asserted.
QUESTIONING THE PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT ON WAQF
Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement that “there is no place for Waqf law in the Constitution given to us by Babasaheb Ambedkar,” Advocate Md. Aamaar Zaki, a prominent lawyer practicing in the Calcutta High Court, challenged the claim.
“The statement raises questions about the judiciary itself—how do the Supreme Court and High Courts continue to adjudicate Waqf-related cases if such laws have no constitutional basis? The Waqf Act, like the Hindu Religious Endowment Act, is supported by Articles 26 and 30 of the Constitution. Furthermore, the Muslim Shariat Application Act of 1937, which contributes to the foundation of the Waqf Act, remains in force,” argued Zaki.
Lawyers Unite to Denounce Media Propaganda
The legal fraternity collectively denounced media narratives portraying Waqf as aggressors, labeling them as baseless and misleading. “The entire propaganda of ‘Waqf Jihad’ and ‘Land Terror’ lacks factual support and judicial backing,” the lawyers concluded.
Highlighting the plight of Waqf properties, the panelists emphasized the need to protect these religious and charitable endowments from encroachments and urged responsible reporting based on verified facts and legal judgments.
“The real victim of encroachment is Waqf, and WAQF Terror is just a Propaganda” declared the forum, uniting to defend the rights of Waqf Boards across the country.