Proposed Wakf Bill will create a unified and centralized regulatory mechanism says the Minority Affairs Minister.
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Hyderabad: On the dismal performance of the minority affairs ministry in granting loans to minorities, Minister K Rehman Khan today directly attacked the banking sector for not following RBI guidelines of allotting 15% i.e. 1,75,000 crore worth loan to minorities as envisaged in PM’s 15 point programs.
The minority affairs minister was addressing the media in Hyderabad. He said that his ministry will try to ensure sanctioning of loans.
K. Rehman Khan adressing the press conference
Rehman Khan enthusiastically informed that in 12th Five year plan planning commission has allotted 17,775 crore to minority development and he is hopeful that proposed amount will create an outlay of 5-6 crore in each minority block.
On the question, that will the allocated amount of 17,775 crore in 12th plan will be utilized? As in 11th year plan 8,000 crore allotted amount was not fully utilized and major portion of it got wasted, Mr. Khan with full vigor criticized the respective state governments for not utilizing the allocated amount and not giving any proposals for any minority development program, thus washed the hands off Union minority ministry for not utilizing and wasting of minority development funds.
Flanked by Congressmen from different posts, MP M.A. Khan, A.P. Wakf board chairman Ghulam Afzal, Minorities Commission chairman Abid Rasool Khan, and MLC’s Farooq Hussain and Shabir Ali, Rehman Khan added that UPA Government is committed for the overall development of minority communities. He said UPA has begun a block level MSDP program in minority concentrated towns. He also added that the UPA government is planning to expand Maulana Azad Educational Foundation scholarship program, and to grant coaching to nearly 1000 Muslim students for Civil services exams.
Minority Affairs Ministry new bill on the lines of public premises act will ensure protection of Wakf properties and will provide additional powers to state wakf boards, he specified.
Mr. Khan said that new proposed bill has considered the modifications recommended by select committee of the house and the new modified Wakf bill will be passed in both the houses of parliament in following parliament session.
The new bill according to minority affairs minister will make Central Wakf Council the appellate authority in whole nation which will be helpful in unifying and harmonizing Wakf rules of different states.
The draft of the bill which is in its final phase contains provisions, which would enable state Wakf board to file FIR against illegal occupants and move for their arrest, without suffering from lengthy legal and court proceedings.
The new bill have also brought a sea of changes in leasing rules of Wakf properties, Wakf board will now having immediate powers to cancel the lease, eviction or dislodging of the occupant. A stringent mechanism will be put in place to ensure Wakf property is getting leased on market value, and the bill will put in place maximum lease period up to 30 years.
Mr. Khan declined to comment on the timeline when the bill will be effective, and not revealed any provision in the new proposed Wakf bill to acquire the properties which are already being encroached.