Bengaluru, 6 Nov

Karnataka Board of Waqfs has identified 17 monuments inside the historic Bidar Fort in Karnataka as its property, sources in the district administration said on Wednesday.

These properties are among the major landmarks of the fort located in the district headquarters town of Bidar.

Archaeological Survey of India, the custodian of the fort, is unaware of the development; the sources said, adding that out of 60 properties in the Bidar Fort premises, the Waqf Board found that 17 properties to belong to it.

These include renowned 16-'Khamba' (sixteen pillar) mosque, 14 tombs of various Bahmani rulers and their family members including Ahmed Shah-IV, Ahmed Shah's wife, Allauddin, Hassan Khan, Mohammed Shah-III, Nizam, Sultan Ahmed Shah Wali and Sultan Mahmud Shah.

A top Waqf Board official told PTI, on condition of anonymity, that notices have not been served to the ASI.

"How can the Board issue a notice to the ASI, which has been the custodian and protector of the historical monuments for several decades.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 Jagdambika Pal will visit Hubballi and Vijayapura in Karnataka on 7 November to interact with farmers allegedly affected by Waqf Board's action.

The response came days after BJP MP Tejasvi Surya had requested Pal to invite farmers from Vijayapura district as witnesses to discuss their land disputes with the Waqf Board.

Following allegations by a section of farmers from Vijayapura district that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, Karnataka Chief Minister Sidddaramaiah has said that none of them will be evicted, and notices issued to them will be withdrawn. -PTI