Locals, religious leaders, and rights activists accuse Uttar Pradesh administration of political bias and communal targeting after denying Urs celebration and declaring historic Sufi shrine land as government property under suspicious circumstances
LUCKNOW – A controversy has broken out in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh over the status of the 250-year-old Janeta Dargah, after the local administration recently labelled its land as government property. This move has triggered strong reactions from the Muslim community and raised concerns over the impartiality of the ongoing probe initiated under the new Waqf Act.
The Janeta Dargah, located in Janeta village under Chandausi tehsil, holds immense religious and cultural value. It is believed to be the resting place of Sufi saint Dada Mian, where thousands gather every year for the Urs – a traditional religious fair. But for the first time in decades, the administration did not permit the event in 2024, sparking resentment among locals.
The controversy reportedly began when Mohammad Javed, a local resident, wrote to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claiming the dargah land was actually government land. Critics suggest that this complaint was not made in public interest, but rather to control the revenue generated from the Urs.
Following the complaint, the CM instructed the District Magistrate of Sambhal to investigate the matter. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Nidhi Patel was appointed to lead the probe. Five days ago, she visited the dargah along with Tehsildar Dhirendra Pratap Singh and a team from the Revenue Department for a preliminary inspection. On April 15, 2025, they returned for a detailed land measurement.
Despite the land being recorded in the dargah’s name in official revenue records, Tehsildar Singh claimed it is government property. This has left many confused and angered.
“How can the land be both registered under the dargah and simultaneously be declared government land?” asked Dr Syed Shahid Miyan, the appointed mutawalli (caretaker) of the dargah. “I submitted all the documents they asked for. Yet, they are trying to paint a false narrative that no mutawalli exists.”
Religious leader Maulana Afzal Miyan condemned the administration’s actions. “The investigation must follow due process. Public inspections without prior notice are not just undignified, they show clear bias,” he said.
The Maulana also explained the vital role the dargah plays in local welfare. “We provide free food, education, and support to orphans. The dargah is a place of service, not profit. If anything, we contribute extra money to keep these services running.”
Locals suspect a larger conspiracy to seize waqf properties under the garb of new laws. “This is not an isolated case,” said Mohammad Saeed, a local activist. “The fears we had when the Waqf Act was amended are becoming real. This is a test case to see how much resistance the government will face.”
Meanwhile, some individuals have accused Dr Shahid Miyan of illegally occupying the mutawalli post and misusing resources. But supporters dismiss these claims as baseless, calling them part of a smear campaign to take control of valuable land.
Critics argue that the BJP-led state government is targeting Muslim religious institutions under the guise of legal scrutiny. Many point out that several Hindu religious properties built on government land are rarely questioned or touched.
“If a 250-year-old dargah can be treated this way despite official records, then what hope do other waqf properties have?” asked Advocate Irfan Qureshi, a lawyer specialising in minority rights. “This is selective action, clearly driven by communal politics.”
Opposition parties have also raised concerns. A senior leader from the Samajwadi Party, on condition of anonymity, said: “This government is using laws as tools to harass minorities. It’s all part of the Hindutva project.”
Many also questioned the haste with which Tehsildar Singh announced the land to be government-owned even before the full report was completed. “It is not the job of one officer to declare the land status without conclusive evidence,” said Zubair Khan, a former local councillor. “This shows that the intention is already set – the probe is just a formality.”
Local Muslim residents have launched peaceful protests and are planning to submit a memorandum to the President of India. They are demanding that the state government stop interfering with religious institutions and ensure that waqf properties are protected, not targeted.
Rights activists say the case must be independently reviewed by neutral authorities. “Given the political climate in Uttar Pradesh and the increasing pressure on Muslim institutions, it is important that this matter is handled with transparency,” said Nazima Parveen, a Delhi-based researcher on minority affairs.
The case has also caught national attention, with several Muslim organisations expressing solidarity with the dargah and calling for public awareness campaigns to resist what they call the “systematic erasure” of Muslim heritage sites.
The final report of the investigation will be submitted to the District Magistrate soon. But the storm created by the Tehsildar’s early conclusion has already polarised the region.
For many in Janeta, the dargah is not just a religious site; it is part of their history and soul.
“Let us not forget,” said Maulana Afzal Miyan, “when you take away our shrines, you are not just taking land – you are trying to erase our legacy.”
