Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Waqf board stakes claim on Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple at Prabhadevi in Mumbai.
Fact
Viral social media post is false, temple treasurer clarifies that there is no such claim.
Several social media users are alleging that the Waqf board has now claimed the iconic Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple at Prabhadevi in Mumbai, triggering reactions of outrage. The social media posts have gone viral ahead of voting day for the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra on November 20, with results set to be declared on November 23.
“KHANGRESS will destroy MAHARASHTRA as they did to other states. The Marathas won’t allow descendants of MUGHALS to rule them…(sic),” read one such X post, while another stated, “MVA [Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP)] has accepted all demands of the Ulema Board…Dear Hindus, Mahayuti [BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)] is the only option.”
The posts emerge against the backdrop of spiralling rows across multiple states over Waqf property disputes that have strengthened the BJP’s case for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, citing that the Waqf board has undue powers over land controlled by it.
The archived version of the post can be seen here.
Fact Check
Newschecker ran a keyword search for “Waqf Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple”, which did not lead us to any official statements nor news reports about such a claim by the Waqf board.
We, however, came across this X post by Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray, dated November 18, 2024, dismissing the viral claim as fake and stating that the post reflects the “disgusting mentality of the BJP’s ecosystem” and divide and rule. Thackeray also tagged the ECI and Mumbai Police, demanding action against the user and those who are trying to spread hate in Maharashtra.
A further search led us to this X post by media outlet Mumbai Tarun Bharat, dated November 18, sharing a 26-second video where Shri Siddhivinayak Temple Society treasurer Acharya Pawan Tripathi debunks the viral claim, asserting that the Waqf Board has no intention of making any claims on the Siddhivinayak temple, while categorically stating that no one can claim ownership of the revered temple.
“Pawan Tripathi has now told through his video that there is a false report that the Waqf Board has also claimed the Sri Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai. He said that Sri Siddhivinayak Temple located in Dadar is a place of faith not only in the country but also in the world. Sri Siddhivinayak Temple is the pride and joy of Mumbai. Pawan Tripathi has said through his video that no one will claim the Sri Siddhivinayak temple due to this,” read an MTB report, translated from Marathi, dated November 18, 2024. A similar report can be seen here, confirming that the viral claim was false.
UPDATE ON 26/11/2024: We reached out to the temple trust for their response regarding the viral social media posts, which said, “It is cleared that we didn’t get any kind of legal notice/letter yet”.
Also Read: Did Om Birla’s Daughter Anjali Tie The Knot With A Muslim Man? No, Viral Claim Is False
Conclusion
False claim that the Waqf board has claimed the iconic Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple at Prabhadevi in Mumbai has gone viral.
Result: False
Source
X post, MTB, November 18, 2024
X post, Aaditya Thackeray, November 18, 2024
MTB report, November 18, 2024
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
