By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Bhubaneswar : Haji Mohammed Ayub Khan, Chairman of Orissa Board of Wakfs, has been dismissed by the state Government while withdrawing the membership of legislator Mohammed Rafique from the governing body of Muslim institutions.
This action has been taken in the light of the report submitted by the Lokpal that the nominations did not confirm to the rules and eligibility. Government took this step to shows that it is attempting to wipe out the controversies surrounding functioning of the board.
Many Muslim organizations had raised their objections on the eligibility of Mr Khan. He was involved in controversies right from his nomination to the board in 2005. Muslim organizations accused him for not doing anything for the development of Muslim seminaries as mosque, madarsa and dargahs (shrines) and was also accused of not releasing funds for the pension of divorcee Muslim women.
The nomination of Mr Khan, an MLA from Kantabanji, and MLA from Melchhnamunda Mohammed Rafique were challenged by Ashfaque Mohammed in front of Lokpal.
Indian state of Orissa is on the east coast of India. According to 2001 census there are 761,985 Muslims constituting 2.1% of the state population.