TRS Govt might sell away Wakf properties: Shabbir

Hyderabad, Feb 14 (INN): Deputy CLP leader in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has expressed apprehensions over the safety of Wakf properties in the Telangana State in view of ongoing land regularisation drive launched by the State Government as per GO Ms 58 & 59.

In a letter written to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Shabbir Ali said that was a lot of unrest and apprehensions within the Muslim community with regard to protection of Wakf Properties in the State of Telangana after the State Government announced regularisation drive under the GO Ms No 58 and 59.

He alleged that the State Government has put the safety of Wakf properties at stake. "Several cases have come to the notice in the past wherein Wakf lands were mistaken for government land and consequently sold to private parties.

Such disputes are still going on in different courts and are at various stages of hearing. In such a scenario, the encroachers and some vested elements are trying to take advantage of the GO Ms No 58 & 59 to legalise their illegal possession on Wakf properties," he said in his letter.

Therefore, Shabbir Ali demanded that the Chief Minister issue directions to the Revenue Department and other concerned authorities to ensure that they do not accept any application if it is not enclosed with a NOC from the State Wakf Board.

The Congress leader also alleged that the State Government was planning to sell away prime Wakf properties in Hyderabad and its outskirts. "There are reports that the State Government has directed the Secretary of Minorities Welfare Department to furnish information on Wakf properties located on prime locations in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

As many as 18 important properties located at Begumpet, Chapel Road, Nampally, Narayanguda, Khairtabad, Panjagutta, Shaikpet, Maheshwaram, Mamidipally, Manikonda and Serilingampally are said to have been identified by the department.

Further, there are reports that the State Government is planning to acquire these properties by paying a nominal amount to the Wakf Board and sell the same at exorbitant rates to private parties. This move is extremely shocking," he said.

Stating that no one has a right to sell away a Wakf property, not even the Wakf Board, he asked the government to drop its plans, if any, to acquire and sell away Wahf properties.

"Any such move would be a direct interference in the Wakf affairs and violation of Central Wakf Act," he said and sought a clear assurance from the Chief Minister that the State Government would not regularise encroachments on Wakf Properties under the garb of GO Ms 58 & 59 and will not acquire/sell any Wakf property/land.

The Congress leader also reminded that following debate on the floor of the State legislature, a House Committee was formed on January 10 this year to enquire into the Wakf lands. Shabbir Ali is also a member of House Committee which is headed by Bajireddy Govardhan.

He urged the Chief Minister to takes necessary steps to hasten the probe by the House Committee. "The State Government should not regularise/alienate or intervene on any matters related to Wakf properties until the House Committee submits its enquiry report," he demanded.

Shabbir Ali also wrote separate letters to Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali, Assembly Speaker S Madhusudan Chary and Council Chairman Swamy Goud seeking their intervention for beginning of probe by the House Committee on Wakf properties.