MP Waqf Board Chairman Sanwar Patel slams critics over appointments
Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board Chairman Dr Sanwar Patel has broken his silence over the controversy surrounding the appointment of two non-Muslim members to the Board and the subsequent meeting with Bhopal’s Shahar Qazi and Shahar Mufti, dismissing criticism as politically motivated and aimed at misleading the community.
Speaking at a programme in Ujjain, Patel took a sharp swipe at his critics, saying those questioning the meeting on social media were individuals who ‘command no respect in public life’.
He clarified that he had personally invited the Shahar Qazi and Shahar Mufti as a mark of respect, adding that honouring religious elders was part of his upbringing.
According to Patel, the two religious leaders appreciated the Board’s recent initiatives and advised it to ensure transparent management of Waqf properties while continuing action against corruption.
He said those criticising the meeting should also seek guidance from senior religious leaders if they wished to work honestly in public life.
Responding to objections over the inclusion of two non-Muslim members in the Waqf Board, Patel said the appointments had been made strictly in accordance with the Waqf Act, 2025.
He stressed that non-Muslim members had been inducted only at the state board level in an expert capacity to contribute administrative and financial expertise.
He clarified that mosques, madrasas, dargahs and local Waqf management committees would continue to be managed exclusively by Muslims, as provided under the new law, rejecting allegations that the religious character of Waqf institutions was being altered.
Patel claimed the Board had taken strong action against illegal encroachments and financial irregularities over the past three to four years, resulting in a significant increase in revenue from Waqf properties. He said that in Bhopal alone, the Board had recovered nearly Rs 29 crore, compared to negligible income from Waqf assets in previous years.
He alleged that opposition to the new Board and the amended law was being fuelled by individuals whose “personal interests and illegal activities” had been affected by the Board’s anti-encroachment and anti-corruption measures.
Outlining the Board’s vision, Patel said Waqf properties belonged to the community and were meant for the welfare of economically weaker sections rather than any individual.
He said the Board had launched schemes to support the education of children from poor Muslim families and intended to utilise Waqf income for education and other welfare initiatives.
The controversy erupted after Bhopal’s Shahar Qazi Maulana Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadvi and Shahar Mufti Abdul Kalam Qasmi met Patel and presented him with a bouquet following the constitution of the new Waqf Board.
The meeting drew criticism from sections of the Muslim community and several clerics, with protests being held in Bhopal against the inclusion of two non-Muslim members in the Board.
Meanwhile, anticipating a legal challenge after Congress MLA Arif Masood announced plans to move the Supreme Court, the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board has filed a caveat petition in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, seeking to ensure that no order is passed without first hearing the Board’s submissions.
