By TCN News
Shabbir Ahmed Ansari, President, All India Muslim OBC Organization, under the guidance of spiritual leader Maulana Moinuddin Ashraf launched Tehreek-e-Awqaf, a social movement to protect the properties of Maharashtra state waqf properties.
In a press release, the organisation said that one of the basic problems faced by Indian Muslims is that certain waqf properties have been grabbed by agencies including Government institutions who have converted them some into residential, office or commercial complexes forcibly.
“If the Government takes this matter seriously and the Muslims the biggest minority community of India numbering several lakh crores are able to get potential of this property, it may bring about a social and economic revolution and provide them an opportunity to solve their problems,” the press release said.
“It is said that, the market value of Maharashtra’s waqf properties is Rs.4.5 lakh crore (Rs. 4500 billion). Put to efficient and marketable use, they can generate a minimum return of 10%, which is about Rs. 45,000 crore per annum,” the release added.
Expressing disappointment at people are who are at the helm of affairs being more interested in achieving their own ends, the movement has been launched with the following objectives:
a) Ensure protection of waqf properties;
b) Recover illegally occupied waqf properties after Independence;
c) Return the sold out waqf properties to waqf boards;
d) Empower waqf boards to recover pending crores of rupees of rents; and
e) To research and do a proper survey to identify the wakf properties and record/documents pertaining there to be preserved.
f) To work on Land records and do corrective actions to clear the title of Waqf Land.
g) Working of the State Waqf Board must be improved and suitable measures for their proper and smooth functioning must be taken.
h) To make sure that Waqf Board gets grant from government, adequate staff, waqf board offices in all districts.
An Ad-hoc Committee of 11 members is announced today and district committees will be launched soon in all the districts of Maharashtra.
“We have also decided to arrange a capacity building workshops in each districts of Maharashtra to create awareness on Waqf issues and to train people on how to work on Waqf issues,” the release added.