Mohd Azam Khan wrote a letter to Chief Minister

Accepting the corruption taken place in Shia and Sunni Waqf Boards, Minister for Minority Welfare and Waqf Mohd Azam Khan wrote a letter to Chief Minister asking to conduct CBI probe into it. 

“A couple of days after Samajwadi Party came into power, I informed you about illegal sales of the Waqf properties coming under Shia and Sunni Waqf Boards. It was sold by the people so-called religious people. The sales of waqf properties is not allowed in central, state and Islamic laws,” said Khan in the letter to CM on Saturday. 

Minister claimed that after razing the mosques plotting was done of the land, land of graveyard was sold and even same happened with other waqf properties too. “Even at that time I recommended for CBI inquiry but due to some reasons orders were not issued. But to show the transparency of state government and to unmask the culprits it is required again. I request to CM to recommended CBI probe in it,” he said in the letter. 

Reacting on it, Shia Cleric and Imam-e-Juma, Maulana Kalbe Jawwad said it was us who were demanding CBI probe since beginning but the state government handed-over the probe to CB-CID. I have written several letters to the state government regarding. Even I say CBI probe should be conducted. 

He alleged that sometime back an order was passed by the state government to construct boundary walls of Waqf graveyards for which more than Rs 350 crore was sanctioned. But still now not even a single boundary wall has been completed so far. Even the state government should include this scheme too in CBI probe as there are chances of corruption taken place in it. 

Meanwhile, a meeting of Clerics was organised at the residence of Maulana Kalbe Jawwad which was attended by more than 150 clerics from different districts. Till the last reports came in the meeting was going on. “The meeting was regarding ongoing Waqf Board issue and they were to decide the future course of action as the 48 hours deadline given to the state government ended on Saturday,” said a cleric present in the meeting. 

Notably, the cleric intensified the agitation after Alvida Juma Prayers on July 25 where a massive rally was taken out to gherao the residence of Waqf Minister Azam Khan but the protestors were lathi-charged by the police leaving one dead and many injured. 

After which another protest meeting was organised at Shahi Masjid situated in Hazratganj area on July 30 before which Cleric had meeting with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to discuss over the demands. He gave 48 hours to CM to fulfill the demands. But on Thursday, the state government issued notification for the election of UP Shia Central Waqf Board which irked the Cleric as he was demanding to revise the voter list first then to hold the elections.