Hyderabad: Led by Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee (GHCC) Minorities Department chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail, several Congress leaders and workers staged a dharna at Haj House on Wednesday demanding protection of Wakf properties.
Speaking to media persons, Abdullah Sohail expressed wonder over Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao’s decision to seal the Wakf Board office in a late night operation on Tuesday.
He said that the seizure of Wakf Board office and its records was a confession that the TRS Government has failed to prevent irregularities in the Wakf Board or protect its properties during the last three-and-a-half years.
He said that the present Wakf Board was legally constituted under the Central Wakf Act and comprises of TRS and MIM leaders.
He said MIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi himself is a member of present Wakf Board. By ordering seizure of Wakf Board and its records without even informing the present Board members, the Chief Minister has sent a loud and clear message that all present members were not trustworthy and they have failed to perform their duties.
Abdullah Sohail said that the Chief Minister has failed to fulfil the promise of giving judicial powers to the Wakf Board. He said not an inch of encroached Wakf land was restored during the last three-and-a-half years.
Instead of admitting his failures and taking corrective action, the Chief Minister made a surprise move just a few hours before the Legislative Assembly was scheduled to have discussion on Welfare of Minorities. He said that the Chief Minister should have issued a statement in the House on why he ordered the seizure of Wakf Board offices.
He should have clarified whether he intends to dissolve the present Wakf Board. But he remained silent on such a crucial issue and such a major decision is shrouded in mystery even after several hours.
The Congress leader alleged that the Chief Minister’s move was primarily aimed at issuing a threat to MIM leaders who are involved in large scale encroachment of Wakf properties. Several cases were registered in the past against Syed Akbar Nizamuddin, the Darulsalaam Cooperative Bank chairman and caretaker of Dargah Hazrath Shah Khamosh.
More than 80% of encroachers of Wakf land are directly or indirectly associated with the MIM leaders. Therefore, by ordering seizure of Wakf Board offices and its records, the Chief Minister had sent a warning to MIM leaders that they were not beyond his reach and he could nail them anytime he wants.
He said that the speech of MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in Assembly on Wednesday appeasing the Chief Minister by crossing all limits of sycophancy is a proof that KCR has achieved his purpose.
Abdullah Sohail said if the Chief Minister is really serious about protection of Wakf properties and restoration of encroached properties, then he must order a judicial enquiry through a sitting judge of High Court and complete the enquiry in a time bound and transparent manner.
He said immediate and stern action should be taken against the guilty irrespective of their social status and political affiliation. Else, he said that the entire exercise of seizure of Wakf office would prove to be an eyewash. He said it took over three-and-a-half years for TRS Government to realise that all is not well with the Wakf Board.
Going at this pace, he said that the TRS Government would not be able to restore even an inch of encroached land in its remaining term.
Senior leaders including TPCC Spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin, ex-Corporator Mohammed Ghouse and other leaders participated in the dharna. (INN)