A storm is brewing in the Hindu-majority village of Makhni, Raisen district, as the Waqf Board’s laid claim to homes, farmland, and even a sacred Shivling. With villagers seething in anger, the arbitrary notices demanding evacuation have ignited a fierce backlash against what many see as an egregious land grab.
Waqf Board’s Land Grab: 3 Acres, Zero Evidence
In a move that has left locals both stunned and enraged, the Waqf Board has declared that three acres of land in Makhni belong to a graveyard. However, despite its sweeping claims, the board has provided no concrete proof. The shock factor escalates further as the notice includes homes, agricultural plots, platforms, and even the revered Shivling, demanding their immediate surrender.
This blatant overreach has sent shockwaves through the village. Residents, many of whom have lived on this land for generations, are refusing to budge, dismissing the claims as baseless and absurd.
Government Land Also on the Waqf Board’s Radar
If grabbing private land wasn’t enough, the Waqf Board has now set its sights on government land too. Official records confirm the land belongs to the state, yet the board insists it is Waqf property. Its justification? A vague claim that a certain Qadir Khan once owned the village and ‘donated’ it to the Waqf. But the villagers are calling this bluff, asserting that no such person ever lived in Makhni.
Longtime residents are prepared to fight tooth and nail to protect their lands. The inclusion of the sacred Shivling in the Waqf Board’s claim has only intensified the outrage, with villagers condemning it as an outright assault on their religious heritage.
The Expanding Web of Controversies
This latest fiasco in Raisen is just another addition to the Waqf Board’s growing list of contentious land claims across India. As public outrage mounts, the Indian government is pushing for reforms through the Waqf Amendment Bill, aiming to rein in the board’s unchecked powers. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) submitted its report on the bill in the Rajya Sabha in February 2025, marking a crucial step toward curbing arbitrary land grabs.
Over the years, the Waqf Board has claimed Hindu-owned properties, temples, and even state lands, often with little to no justification. The audacity of such actions has fueled demands for stringent legal reforms to prevent further encroachments.
As the battle for Makhni intensifies, villagers are standing their ground, refusing to be displaced by what they see as a blatant land heist. With no evidence backing the Waqf Board’s claims, they are demanding swift government intervention to put an end to this brazen overreach once and for all.