ASI Challenges Waqf Board’s Unilateral Claims on 250 Historic Monuments, Defending India’s Heritage

This revelation comes as the Joint Parliamentary Committee examines the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. In a dramatic twist, the ASI has strengthened its stance by increasing its tally from 120 monuments to 250, revealing how pervasive this issue truly is. Among these are some iconic sites- Delhi’s Jama Masjid at Feroz Shah Kotla, Chhoti Gumti in RK Puram, the historic Hauz Khas Masjid, and the Idgah prayer ground. These sites, protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, are now mired in disputes due to their registration under the Waqf Act, 1995.