Activists Accuse Maharashtra Waqf Board of Corruption and Maladministration
Aurangabad, 19th October 2023: Activists have leveled serious allegations against the Maharashtra Waqf Board, accusing it of corruption, maladministration, and disempowering the Muslim community in the state. These allegations come amid revelations of significant land scams in various cities including Pune, Solapur, Satara, Kolhapur, and Mumbai.
Activists from across the state gathered for a peaceful demonstration outside the Ritz Hotel, where the Waqf Board held a meeting at 4:30 PM. While the Aurangabad police denied permission for the protest, they allowed a delegation of citizen activists to meet with the board members inside the hotel.
The activists claim that the Waqf Board, despite being composed of elected and appointed members, including legislators and parliamentarians, has failed in its duty to protect and develop Waqf properties for the benefit of the poor Muslim community in the state.
“Large scale encroachment is happening on Waqf properties, and the board is doing nothing about it,” stated a press release from the activists, who operate under the banner of the Maharashtra Waqf Liberation and Protection Taskforce.
The protesters emphasized the need for state-of-the-art facilities like hospitals, colleges, skill development centers, universities, women’s colleges, nursing institutes, stadiums, sports complexes, schools, art and craft centers, and scholarship programs. “The board is not empowering the community as mandated by the government; instead, it’s disempowering them,” the release added.
The activists’ demonstration aims to hold the Waqf Board accountable and remind them of their obligations towards the community and the nation. They insist that with properties worth crores of rupees under its control, the board must stop “harassing citizens for application fees” and instead focus on development projects that benefit the Muslim community.
The allegations put forth by the activists have intensified the scrutiny on the Waqf Board, raising questions about its commitment to the welfare of the Muslim community in Maharashtra.
