By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad lashed out at the Congress party for illegally selling off thousands of bighas of waqf land in Khatauli, Muzaffarnagar. The revelation was made by him during a press conference in the presence of Mutawalli of the said waqf with supporting papers in his claim.
Jawwad while addressing newsmen on Tuesday also alleged that recently a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) minister was also involved in purchasing waqf land in Muzaffarnagar.
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad addressing media persons in Lucknow on 2nd August 2011
Jawwad, who is also a member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), raised the issue of waqf estates of Najmul Nisan and Alamdar Hussain situated in Khatauli, Muzaffarnagar. These waqf properties of nearly 3200 bighas are registered with Shia Waqf Board since 1916. “The land was however sold by the then Congress government in 1949 showing them as evacuee property for a private sugar mill. The amount is deposited with government treasury. It should be released in favour of the caretaker of the aforesaid waqf,” claimed Jawwad. He also alleged that recently around 20 bighas of land from the same waqf have been purchased by a relative of BSP minister Yashwant Singh. “The sale is illegal as waqf land cannot be sold or purchased,” said Jawwad.
Member, Shia Waqf Board, Maulana Ansar Hussain stated that all the governments have adopted a step motherly attitude towards waqf properties. “The community will not take this lying down. We demand compensation for the waqf property in Muzaffarnagar. We will not hesitate to take to roads over the issue,” said Hussain.
Later Jawwad also claimed waqf properties are being usurped by the land sharks while state government is not taking any action against them. “Even in Lucknow, prime properties of waqf board are under the possession of government offices. The Jawahar Bhawan and Indira Bhawan are an example as they are located on waqf land but the waqf board is not even paid a single penny as rent,” said Kalbe Jawwad.