By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 12 Aug: Chairman of the Uttarakhand Waqf Board and senior BJP leader Shadab Shams called on Union Minority Minister Kiren Rijiju in New Delhi on Saturday and demanded a CBI Inquiry into the Waqf properties across the states. Speaking to Garhwal Post, Shadab Shams claimed that across the country and even in states like Uttarakhand, there is widespread misuse and encroachment on Waqf land and some powerful leaders, in particular from the Congress and SP, have encroached on Waqf land. Shams said that Rijiju lent a patient hearing to him and assured him of positive action in this regard.
This meeting between Shams and Rijiju comes at a time when the Centre has proposed as many as 44 amendments to the Waqf Act and has tabled a bill in Parliament in this regard. The bill has been referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee since the standing committees of the Parliament are yet to be constituted after the elections. Sources in the BJP claim that the Centre is firm on its stand to widely amend the present Waqf Act.
Speaking to Garhwal Post, Shadab Shams asserted that he fully supports amendments in the Waqf Act as many of the properties claimed by Waqf Boards in various states do not actually belong to them. He added that a large portion of Waqf properties are no more in actual possession of the State Waqf Boards. He said that being the Chairman of the Uttarakhand State Waqf Board, he has found that many large properties allegedly registered as Waqf properties are in reality in possession of certain powerful and influential Congress leaders from the Muslim community.
He stated that, during his meeting with Rijiju, he mentioned a few such properties located in Uttarakhand. He claimed that one Congress leader Akbar Ahmed ‘Dumpy’, who is also a former MP has constructed a farmhouse and resort on 200 bighas of land in Ramgarh in district Nainital, which in reality is Waqf property. In addition, he also alleged that one former MP belonging to Muzaffarnagar, Saidul Jama, is also in possession of Waqf property in Uttarakhand while the present head of Piran Kaliyar Dargah in Roorkee and his family is in possession of hundreds of acres of Waqf land in Kaliyar. The family keeps on selling the property to private individuals, he claimed. Shams also added that he has demanded a CBI inquiry into all Waqf properties, whether they are illegally declared as Waqf properties or are in reality Waqf properties but are illegally encroached on by some powerful people. He added that, in his opinion, Waqf properties ought to be used for welfare of the destitute and poor and the women in need of shelter. If this is not done, they will continue to be encroached on and some powerful leaders from the community and even some powerful clergy will continue to encroach more and more on Waqf properties for their own profits.
Shams said that, during his stay in Delhi, he also met BJP State In charge Dushyant Gautam who is also in charge of the Minority Morcha of the party and shared his demands with him. He added that Gautam was in agreement with him regarding better use of Waqf properties for the welfare of the poor Muslims. Shams added that he also called on National Chairman of the BJP’s Minority Morcha, Jamal Siddiqui and briefed him regarding this. He added that the Pasmanda Muslims, who were economically and socially more backward in the community, should be the rightful beneficiaries of the Waqf properties. Shams also informed that, yesterday, in Haridwar, he also met JDU leader KC Tyagi and urged him to ensure that his party fully supports the amendments proposed by Modi Government to the Waqf Act.
