BJP 'gifts' Cabinet Min status to MPWB head

In an unprecedented move on Friday, the State Government granted Cabinet Minister status to the chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board (MPWB) Shoukat Mohammed Khan. The General Administration Department (GAD) of MP Government issued orders in this regard. Notably, Khan is the first leader, who has received Cabinet Minister status during the present Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government of the State, led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

It is for the first time that the State Government setting aside the prevailing tradition of granting State Minister status to the chairpersons of Muslim bodies, provided Cabinet Minister status to MPWB chairman.

The move is seen as BJP’s attempt to woo the Muslim community that normally maintains distance from the saffron party. BJP sources informed that the move came due to the personal interest of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The decision is also considered important in view of BJP’s ongoing mega membership drive. The saffron party is eyeing on the community and to lure it, the cabinet status has been provided to Khan.

Meanwhile, MPWB in a statement on Friday informed that it is going to organise a State-level waqf conference of Mutawallis on March 30.  Minority Welfare minister of Madhya Pradesh Government Antar Singh Arya, BJP State president and MP Nandkumar Singh Chouhan, Finance Minister MP Government Jayant Malaya and executive director of National Waqf Development Corporation (NWDC) Badruddin  besides, officials of Central Waqf Council, New Delhi would especially attend the conference.