False propaganda is aimed at misleading the public and undermining Waqf discussions, claims Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, former chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC), has decried a propaganda campaign by various “Godi media” channels and websites. These outlets are falsely alleging that the DMC and the Delhi Waqf Board seek to appropriate lands belonging to Hindu temples, he said.
In a statement issued here on Monday, Dr Khan said the deliberate misinformation is an attempt to distract from ongoing discussions regarding Waqf issues. “Neither the DMC nor the Waqf Board has ever suggested or demanded that temples built on Waqf land be demolished or that their land be returned,” he said.
The controversy stems from a DMC report published in 2019, which aimed to investigate claims made by BJP MP Parvesh Verma that “illegal” mosques were constructed in his constituency. Verma had claimed that 54 such mosques emerged over the past two decades, urging the Delhi Lieutenant Governor to take action for their demolition. When no response was forthcoming, he reiterated his complaint the following month.
Responding to Verma’s claims, Dr Khan formed a committee comprising two Muslims, two Christians, and a Sikh to inspect the mosques. “Our committee found that none of the mosques were illegal; in fact, some were centuries-old and thus protected as ancient monuments,” he noted.
In a surprising turn, the committee discovered several illegal temples located near the mosques in question. “We documented these temples, including their locations and photographs, although Mr Verma had overlooked them,” Dr Khan stated.
Copies of the DMC report were sent to the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Minister, and even to Verma. Following the report’s release, Verma ceased to raise the issue. However, recent claims by Zee News have reignited the controversy, misrepresenting the DMC report to suggest that the Waqf Board is attempting to seize temple lands.
Dr Khan clarified, “Our committee inspected each mosque on Verma’s list and found all were legal. We also identified illegal temples, but we did not make any demands regarding their lands.” He condemned the current media campaign as “totally concocted,” asserting that it obscures the original findings of the report and seeks to misdirect discussions on Waqf legislation amidst planned changes by the Narendra Modi government.
In a personal account, Dr Khan shared that he had declined to participate in a panel discussion on Zee News due to previous negative experiences with the channel’s bias. “When a reporter from Zee Salam, the Urdu section of Zee News, contacted me for an interview, I agreed under the assurance that my remarks would be presented unedited. However, that interview was not aired as promised,” he revealed.
The following day, Dr Khan found himself on a panel that included three advocates of Hindutva ideology, where he felt his perspective was overshadowed. He expressed frustration at being unable to convey the truth in an environment where “time was amply given to others, including a saffron-clad sadhu who made inflammatory statements.”
“The ongoing propaganda on Godi media platforms is not about truth. They will spread any lie to further their agenda,” Dr Khan asserted, calling for a more balanced and factual discourse around Waqf issues.
The DMC’s 2019 report, initially aimed at addressing community concerns, has now become a tool for misinformation. As discussions around Waqf and communal relations continue, Dr Khan’s statement underscores the urgent need for accountability and integrity in media reporting.
