CPI demands action against Mutawallis

• Narayana backs Wakf special officer who has identified the offenders
• Property belonging to Wakf Board has been grabbed by land sharks
• Illegal selling of land is equal to selling God

Hyderabad: The CPI on Tuesday demanded stringent action against erring Mutawallis for committing irregularities in Wakf properties as alleged by Shaik Mohammed Iqbal, Wakf Board special officer. Backing the claims of Iqbal, CPI state secretary K Narayana said he would represent to the Governor on Wednesday urging him to take stringent action against the offenders who were identified by the special officer.

Speaking at a public meeting organised by Insaaf near Dharna Chowk at Indira Park, the CPI leader said that during the last few decades, the property belonging to Wakf, Bhoodan and Endowments was encroached by land sharks as the government unfortunately overlooked them.

“The greed has put even the assets of God at risk. Huge buildings have come up at some of the Bhoodan lands. I was surprised to know that Hotel Viceroy (Now Marriott) was also constructed on Wakf land. Illegal selling of the land is nothing but an act of selling God and therefore culprits should be punished,” Narayana stated. He demanded action against the culprits, who were being identified and listed.

Referring to various instances where the CPI had taken up ‘Bhooporatam’, he ridiculed that leaders who fought for the poor were given a raw deal by booking cases against them while no action was taken against the encroachers.

He held the view that these lands, which were meant for the God, should be redistributed to the poor as even God too would support this idea. Former MP Azeez Pasha lauded the efforts of the special officer Iqbal and his action against Mutawallis. He pointed out that Mutawallis were like supervisors and watchmen, but they themselves became owners of land worth crores of rupees.

“They are now crying foul and alleging that they have been victimised,” he said. Azeez Pasha feared that the MIM would want offenders like Akbar Nizamuddin be given a clean chit as a bargaining chip with the next State government. He demanded that the government amend the Wakf Act on the lines of West Bengal State, where encroaching Wakf land was a criminal offence. Deccan Wakf Properties Protection Society president Osman Bin Al Hajri questioned as to how these Mutawallis, who were supposed to protect the lands, owned big cars.

According to him, the remaining property of Wakf in the State could generate rent of Rs 700 crore annually, which could be used to support the poor sections of the community. He also blamed MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi for losing out 1,100 acres of land to Shamshabad Airport. Moulana Hamed Hussain Shuttari, president, Sunni Ulema Board, Major SGM Quadri, president, Help Hyderabad, and Mir Ahmed Ali, president, Insaaf, and several other leaders were among the speakers on the occasion.