Uttarakhand: Politicians have turned the Waqf Board into a den of loot, resorts are running on the land, alleges Shadab Shams
The Government of India is going to make a major amendment in the Waqf Board Act. After this decision of the central government, the leaders of all the opposition parties have started raising questions. While talking to the media, Uttarakhand Waqf Board President Shadab Shams said that the Government of India has decided to amend the Waqf Board, which is welcome. Earlier also, the then Minority Welfare Minister Smriti Irani had held a meeting with the presidents of Waqf Boards across the country and discussed this matter.
Shadab Shams says that the work of the Waqf Board is to use the donations made by people for the upliftment of the poor and the destitute. But this has not been seen happening till date. Rather, the Waqf Board has been made a den of black marketing. People are filling their houses by just looting the Waqf Board. People have encroached upon the land donated for the poor and built resorts. People have encroached upon the land of Piran Kaliyar in Roorkee. Despite this, all the corrupt people are unitedly saying that do not touch the Waqf Board.
Bowl in the hands of children
The Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman said, ‘This is the land of India. So much property has been given to the Waqf Board to help the people of India, so that there is not much burden on the governments and people can also be helped through the Waqf Board’. He said that the Waqf Board has property worth thousands of crores. But the bowl is in the hands of children. Whereas people had donated their properties to the Waqf Board thinking that it will be used better. So that the Waqf Board can become a support for the poor and needy people. But this is not happening. In such a situation, he now hopes that after the amendment in the Waqf Board, the coming time will be good.
Corruption in the board’s properties
On the question of the properties of the Waqf Board present in the state of Uttarakhand, Chairman Shams said, ‘I don’t know about the past, but at present about 5000 (immovable) properties are visible. But when Uttarakhand became a separate state, the record of how much property came to Uttarakhand during that time is missing. The officials are not giving any proper answer regarding the properties. This means that corruption has happened in the properties of the Waqf Board. Which should be investigated. The Waqf Board is not able to manage so many properties. But it has an eye on the properties of others.
Complex law of the board
He also said that wherever the Waqf Board has land, people have occupied it. Efforts are made to vacate those lands. But such a big law says that if someone occupies it, then it cannot be vacated quickly. In such a situation, how will the occupied lands be vacated? The Uttarakhand Waqf Board does not have any infrastructure. Many posts are vacant on which appointments need to be made. There is a need to improve the working style of the board.
Bangladesh issue is a serious matter
On the question of violence in Bangladesh, Shadab Shams said that the situation in Bangladesh is moving towards anarchy. Bangladesh has always been our friendly neighbouring country. But due to the chaos prevailing in that country, the Prime Minister had to resign and come to India. This is a serious issue. The whole country is standing together. In such a situation, the injustice being done to the minorities of Bangladesh will not be tolerated. It is also being heard that this is sponsored in which many groups along with ISI are involved. In such a situation, this issue needs to be looked at very seriously.
