By Yasir Ali Mirza, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: A protest march was held in Patna on Tuesday September 02, 2014 against the massive corruption of Bihar State Shia Waqf Board and its alleged nexus with Motawallis and Land Mafias.
The protesters demanded the immediate dismantling of the corrupt Waqf Board and setting up a governmental enquiry in the massive embezzlement of public funds and gross irregularities of Waqf properties in the state. They also demanded the immediate eviction of land properties illegally occupied by the influential persons.
The protest march was led by the Friday prayer leader of Shia Jama Masjid of Muzaffarpur Maulana Syed Mohammad Kazim and other Shia clerics of Bihar. Protesters assembled at Kargil Chowk near sprawling Gandhi Maidan.
Shia leaders speaking with press
They raised black banners and placards and chanted slogans “Down with Shia Waqf Board,” “Labbaik Ya Hussain,” “Give us Back our Waqf Properties,” to save the invaluable Shia waqf lands in Bihar.
A number of people from Sunni community also came in support of the cause. They also raised slogans in solidarity with Maulana Kazim’s ongoing struggle against the corrupt Motawalli and his backers who have planned to sell off waqf lands in Muzaffarpur.
Before culminating into Hartali Chowk near Chief Minister’s residence the protest march passed through busy routes of Fraser Road, Bailey Road, Dak Bungalow Chowk in a tight security cordon. At Hartali Chowk Shia leaders delivered speeches and raised their concerns for waqf properties in Bihar which have been dwindling with the sheer connivance of Waqf Board corrupt officials, Motawallis and Land Mafias.
Shias protesting against Waqf Board in Patna
Maulana Kazim said, “We are here to lodge our anger and frustration about the state of affairs of waqf properties. The Bihar State Shia Waqf Board has been made hub of immense corruption in all these years. The properties which have been endowed for the welfare of community have been deliberately plundered by the nexus of waqf board officials, government officials, motawallis of respective waqfs and land mafias.”
A five member delegation led by Maulana Kazim also met with the Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi’s representatives and submitted a memorandum of demands. As the CM was busy in a meeting with prior schedule, the bureaucrats who met with the delegation gave assurance that Chief Minister will call them in next few days to discuss the matter in full length.
There had been tremendous pressure on Maulana Kazim and other Shia clerics from every quarter to postpone this peaceful protest.