Hyderabad: A major controversy has erupted in Hyderabad as the Waqf Board has claimed ownership of nearly 2,500 square yards of land under the Defence Ministry, raising legal, administrative, and political concerns in Telangana. Opposition parties allege that the Congress government is granting the Waqf Board undue freedom to secure the Muslim vote bank, accusing it of initiating “land grabs in the name of religion.” With by-elections scheduled in Hyderabad this November, the political implications of the dispute have intensified.
The land in question has been under Defence Ministry control for decades and was originally acquired during the British era from a religious shrine for military use. The Waqf Board argues that Waqf properties are perpetual, asserting its ownership even after decades. Critics question why the claim has surfaced now, amid allegations that the Congress government is favoring the Muslim community for electoral gains.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has condemned the move, calling it a threat to national security. BJP leader G. Kishan Reddy said the claim over Defence land endangers the country and accused the Congress of compromising national interests for vote-bank politics.
This is not the first instance of Waqf Board disputes over government and private lands. Previous claims in Bhopal, Jaipur, and Delhi have raised questions about potential misuse of the Waqf Act of 1995, which grants Waqf Boards near-exclusive authority to declare properties as Waqf, challengeable only through Waqf tribunals. Legal experts argue this can conflict with Article 14 of the Constitution and secular principles.
The land claimed in Hyderabad houses military workshops and warehouses, making any external claim a serious security concern. Central government sources have stated that Waqf ownership of Defence property is legally untenable and may lead to court proceedings.
Political analysts suggest the move is strategically timed to reinforce the Congress party’s image as a protector of Muslim properties ahead of the by-elections, though it risks alienating Hindu voters. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has remained silent, while local AIMIM leaders support the Waqf Board, framing it as a religious duty to protect Muslim assets.
The dispute has now become a standoff between the state government and the Defence Ministry, raising broader questions about whether Waqf claims are genuinely for property protection or political advantage. Legal observers warn that allowing religious institutions to assert claims over government or Defence land could set a dangerous precedent, threatening secular governance and national security.
Hyderabad’s Waqf land controversy is thus more than a local issue—it is a national warning about the intersection of religion, politics, and law, demanding a decisive response from both the central government and judiciary to safeguard the Constitution and public security.
