Shia trust blames Ahmed Patel for Wakf land grab 3 May 2014
Priyadarshi Dutta is an independent researcher based in New Delhi.
Ahmed Patel, Sonia Gandhi’s closest aide, does not like to be in the news. Enjoying his fourth stint as Rajya Sabha MP – he hardly participates in any debate or raises any Parliament question. But he is perceived as wielding enormous clout within the 10, Japnath coterie. He is also seen as the brain behind UPA Government’s pro-Muslim policies like Sachar Committee Report. But this year, he has been in media more than once for wrong reasons.
The most recent incident has riled him the most. It pertains to Modi calling him a ‘friend’ in his interview with the DD News. Patel, popularly called Babu Bhai in Gujarat, has taken offence. He has even threatened to quit public life if Modi could prove that they were in touch. Patel has been a member of Lok Sabha twice, and is already into his fourth Rajya Sabha term. A rest from public life might not be utterly untimely. But he might be looking for an exit route for reasons other than Modi’s remarks.
Ahmed Patel’s name in VVIP chopper deal?: Earlier this year, his name echoed in Italian courts in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal. In December last, the Italian prosecutors produced a handwritten document in the court of Busto Arsizio near Milan. This document purportedly lists the names of Indian politicians whom the AgustaWestland middlemen viz. Guido Haschke and Christian Michel had bribed to clinch the Rs 3,546 crore deal. One such initial was AP. When the prosecutors asked the middlemen whether AP implied ‘Ahmed Patel’ the middlemen said they had no idea. Another facsimile message was produced by prosecutor apparently by an officer of AgustaWestland. It says that Sonia Gandhi and Ahmed Patel could use the VVIP helicopters, whereas the protocol clearly debars anyone who is not a Government functionary from using those choppers.
Shia Cleric Kalbe Jawwad appeals to boycott Congress
Aiding Shia Wakf property encroachment: The Shias are up in arms against Salman Khurshid and Ahmed Patel for allegedly aiding encroachment of land at dargah Shah-e-Mardan near Jorbagh in New Delhi. The dargah Shah-e-Mardan is one of the oldest Shia Imambara with history dating back to 1724. While many Muslims living there fled to Pakistan after the partition, some continued to nestle to the site. It has a graveyard which nowadays is used only for disposal of the Taziyas (or artifacts) used during Muharram procession. The area is often called Karbala, where the Muhammaram processions converge.
The otherwise peaceful area has of late become trouble spot. Anjuman-e-Haidari (estd 1947) the Trust, which looks after the upkeep of the Shah-e-Mardan, have accused Rajdhani Nursery for encroaching upon its land. The Rajdhani Nursery is managed by AM Khan, Nadeem Khan and Wasim Khan (incidentally Sunnis). The Anjuman accuses they were earlier licensed gardeners of Trust. The garden was called Gulzar-e-Haidari. But even when their license expired they refused to leave and started a full-fledged commercial nursery there under the name Rajdhani Nursery. The Khan brothers have refused to quit despite losing case in arbitration tribunal and Saket District Court. The Shias accuse that the Khan brothers enjoy patronage of Salman Khurshid and Ahmed Patel. That is why – the Sheila Dikshit Government dragged its feet on the issue despite court orders.
What is a plain land dispute have attained a Shia-Sunni colouring. But the Hindu neighbourhood like BK Dutt colony, Jor Bagh and Lodhi Road feel the heat. On January 16, 2012, there was a major clash between police and the protestors leaving 17 police personnel and 50 local people injured. Since the beginning of this year the Shias have become more assertive to reclaim the land. They made several attempts to pour in from Uttar Pradesh in show of strength. The police had to seal the borders of East Delhi and halt them on the tracks. This leads to traffic chaos on Delhi Noida flyover. Near Jor Bagh – the traffic is blocked or diverted to prevent any untoward incident. The Muharram becomes a law & order headache.
Brother Ahmed, now tell us about Sonia Gandhi
Leading Shia cleric Mauala Kalbe Jawwad is spearheading a campaign for arrest of Ahmed Patel. On April 11, 2014 Zahrul Hassan, manager, Anjuman Haidari wrote a complain letter to various authorities advocating penal action against Patel on charges of conspiracy to implicate Maulana Kalbe Jawwad. Hassan blames that Ahmed Patel using dirty tricks of either buying them off or getting them implicated in terror cases. There have been protests in front of Ahmed Patel’s residence at 23, Willingdon Crescent.
Leading Shia cleric Mauala Kalbe Jawwad is spearheading a campaign for arrest of Ahmed Patel. On April 11, 2014 Zahrul Hassan, manager, Anjuman Haidari wrote a complain letter to various authorities advocating penal action against Patel on charges of conspiracy to implicate Maulana Kalbe Jawwad. Hassan blames that Ahmed Patel using dirty tricks of either buying them off or getting them implicated in terror cases. There have been protests in front of Ahmed Patel’s residence at 23, Willingdon Crescent.
Shia fight to get Karbala Land in Jor Bagh – Maulana Kalbe Jawwad
Personally I believe that Waqf property is a ‘looted’ property. Neither the Afghans nor the Mughals carried a single inch of land to India. They grabbed Indian land to turn them into Waqf. Waqf lands runs into millions of acres across India. But the alleged role played by Ahmed Patel is not honourable one either. Patel is no desirable friend for Narendra Modi. But far bigger stigmas have got attached to Patel nowadays than the friendship of Modi.
Published on Jan 29, 2014
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad alleges that the Shia community will protest against congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Salman Khurshid as they supporting Rajdhani Nursery owners who have occupied land of Karbala in Jor Bagh, Delhi.
The eight acres of land owned by the Waqf Board also houses the Rajdhani nursery. The situation in the area worsened in 2012 when the nursery owner and members of the Anjuman-e-Haidri committee, which looks after the complex, clashed.
The committee members alleged that the lease for the nursery expired in 2000 but the owner is not vacating the land.
"The nursery owner has lost the case both during arbitration and in Saket court. But despite orders, he's not vacating the premises. Every time we ask him to vacate, he sends goons. It's a simple case of land-grabbing but he has turned it into a Shia-Sunni issue," said Rais Abbas, vice-president, Anjuman-e-Haidri committee. The committee members claimed there are 112 graves in the area, including some on the nursery land.
Nursery owner Wasim Khan says the matter is in high court and the other orders have been quashed. "Since 1976, we are operating from here. There are no graves in this area, it's a myth. We are not able to work, and whenever there is a gathering, people destroy our plants and property," he alleged.
Press Release by Anjuman.e.Haideri
New Delhi, 29 Jan.- Maulana Kalbe Jawad, General Secretary of Majlis-e-Ulema-e-Hind and Patron of Anjuman-e-Haideri has vehemently demanded the immediate arrest of Mr. Ahmed Patel, the kingpin of Waqf land grabbers active specially in Jorbagh area, who is also the political Secretary to Smt. Sonia Gandhi, for his continued support to the Waqf Land grabbers of Karbala, Jorbagh and elsewhere. He said that the recent detention of over 50 devotees and arrest of 28 devotees at the behest of Ahmed Patel from his official residence was another draconian step against the law abiding citizens of the country.
Maulana Kalbe Jawad, while addressing a press conference here, said that AICC President Smt. Sonia Gandhi had instructed Ahmed Patel to resolve the Karbala issue. Hundreds of meetings have taken place between office bearers of Anjuman-e-Haideri and Ahmed Patel having not yielded any result till date. On the one hand Ahmed Patel have been supporting the illegal business activities at Karbala ground asking Delhi police to Shield Moid Khan and his partners, while expressing his helplessness to Anjuman-e-Haideri in getting the High court orders implemented. On the behest of Ahmed Patel most of the government agencies have been engaged in supporting the illegal activities, that too against the spirit of Delhi High court orders, he alleged.
On this occasion, Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi, Patron of Anjuman-e-Haideri and other prominent clerics announced that the Save Karbala Movement will spread throughout national capital region (NCR) and effigies of Ahmed Patel will be burnt at several mosques in Delhi and Lucknow on Friday 31 January 2014. If he is not arrested immediately a huge Candle March will be organized at India Gate on 2nd February (Sunday). Ulema and Scholars will lead the candle march with participation of thousands of people.
While explaining his future plan, Maulana Kalbe Jawad asserted that if no action is taken against Ahmed Patel for patronizing the Waqf land grabbers, he will campaign against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in their constituencies in Raebareli and Amethi.
It is to recall that Maulana Kalbe Jawad had opposed Congress party in the recently held Delhi Assembly elections. Karbala Jorbagh falls under the New Delhi Constituency, where Shiela Dikshit has lost badly.
Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi also felicitated the twenty eight devotees, who were recently sent to jail for protecting constitution. He said that these people have sacrificed their comfort by participating in Save Karbala Movement. They went straight to residence of Ahmed Patel immediately getting released from Tihar jail on Monday evening.
Several Prominent Muslim scholars and Ulema and office bearers of Anjuman-e-Haideri were also present at the press conference.
Anjuman-e-Haideri, the management body of Waqf properties of Dargah Shah-e-Mardan, Karbala, Chhoti Karbala, Qanati Masjid, Naqqar Khana and other surrounding Waqf land in Aliganj, is spearheading a movement to stop illegal business activities at Karbala ground by its caretaker (mali) who claims political patronage of Ahmed Patel and others in the government.
Bahadur Abbas Naqvi, General Secretary of Anjuman-e-Haideri asserted that Muslim Ulema and scholars from various states are preparing to launch a nationwide "Free Karbala Movement". He said that political leaders, especially those belonging to Congress, have misread the situation in handling Karbala Jorbagh issue, and hence lost the recent Delhi Assembly elections.
The eight acres of land owned by the Waqf Board also houses the Rajdhani nursery. The situation in the area worsened in 2012 when the nursery owner and members of the Anjuman-e-Haidri committee, which looks after the complex, clashed.
The committee members alleged that the lease for the nursery expired in 2000 but the owner is not vacating the land.
"The nursery owner has lost the case both during arbitration and in Saket court. But despite orders, he's not vacating the premises. Every time we ask him to vacate, he sends goons. It's a simple case of land-grabbing but he has turned it into a Shia-Sunni issue," said Rais Abbas, vice-president, Anjuman-e-Haidri committee. The committee members claimed there are 112 graves in the area, including some on the nursery land.
Nursery owner Wasim Khan says the matter is in high court and the other orders have been quashed. "Since 1976, we are operating from here. There are no graves in this area, it's a myth. We are not able to work, and whenever there is a gathering, people destroy our plants and property," he alleged.
Press Release by Anjuman.e.Haideri
New Delhi, 29 Jan.- Maulana Kalbe Jawad, General Secretary of Majlis-e-Ulema-e-Hind and Patron of Anjuman-e-Haideri has vehemently demanded the immediate arrest of Mr. Ahmed Patel, the kingpin of Waqf land grabbers active specially in Jorbagh area, who is also the political Secretary to Smt. Sonia Gandhi, for his continued support to the Waqf Land grabbers of Karbala, Jorbagh and elsewhere. He said that the recent detention of over 50 devotees and arrest of 28 devotees at the behest of Ahmed Patel from his official residence was another draconian step against the law abiding citizens of the country.
Maulana Kalbe Jawad, while addressing a press conference here, said that AICC President Smt. Sonia Gandhi had instructed Ahmed Patel to resolve the Karbala issue. Hundreds of meetings have taken place between office bearers of Anjuman-e-Haideri and Ahmed Patel having not yielded any result till date. On the one hand Ahmed Patel have been supporting the illegal business activities at Karbala ground asking Delhi police to Shield Moid Khan and his partners, while expressing his helplessness to Anjuman-e-Haideri in getting the High court orders implemented. On the behest of Ahmed Patel most of the government agencies have been engaged in supporting the illegal activities, that too against the spirit of Delhi High court orders, he alleged.
On this occasion, Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi, Patron of Anjuman-e-Haideri and other prominent clerics announced that the Save Karbala Movement will spread throughout national capital region (NCR) and effigies of Ahmed Patel will be burnt at several mosques in Delhi and Lucknow on Friday 31 January 2014. If he is not arrested immediately a huge Candle March will be organized at India Gate on 2nd February (Sunday). Ulema and Scholars will lead the candle march with participation of thousands of people.
While explaining his future plan, Maulana Kalbe Jawad asserted that if no action is taken against Ahmed Patel for patronizing the Waqf land grabbers, he will campaign against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in their constituencies in Raebareli and Amethi.
It is to recall that Maulana Kalbe Jawad had opposed Congress party in the recently held Delhi Assembly elections. Karbala Jorbagh falls under the New Delhi Constituency, where Shiela Dikshit has lost badly.
Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi also felicitated the twenty eight devotees, who were recently sent to jail for protecting constitution. He said that these people have sacrificed their comfort by participating in Save Karbala Movement. They went straight to residence of Ahmed Patel immediately getting released from Tihar jail on Monday evening.
Several Prominent Muslim scholars and Ulema and office bearers of Anjuman-e-Haideri were also present at the press conference.
Anjuman-e-Haideri, the management body of Waqf properties of Dargah Shah-e-Mardan, Karbala, Chhoti Karbala, Qanati Masjid, Naqqar Khana and other surrounding Waqf land in Aliganj, is spearheading a movement to stop illegal business activities at Karbala ground by its caretaker (mali) who claims political patronage of Ahmed Patel and others in the government.
Bahadur Abbas Naqvi, General Secretary of Anjuman-e-Haideri asserted that Muslim Ulema and scholars from various states are preparing to launch a nationwide "Free Karbala Movement". He said that political leaders, especially those belonging to Congress, have misread the situation in handling Karbala Jorbagh issue, and hence lost the recent Delhi Assembly elections.
http://www.niticentral.com/2014/05/03/shia-trust-blames-ahmed-patel-for-wakf-land-grab-219375.html