Storm brews as Wakf offers land to TMREIS

Nampally: The issue of handing over some 150 acres of Wakf land to TMREIS (Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society) on lease has run into troubled waters. Besides opposition from Congress and other political, social organisations, there is a growing resentment among some of the TS Wakf Board members.

The meeting, which was organised at chairman's office in Haj House building on Thursday, ended without any conclusion and ended abruptly, after a few board members walked out. But Board's chairman Md Saleem maintained that it was postponed owing to some technical issues in taking major decisions and because of absence of important member, Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi.

It is said that the major issue was not on meeting's agenda, which prompted some of them to make a 'walk out', interestingly amid the presence of non-members, Minority Welfare Department Director Shahnawaz Qasim and TMREIS Secretary B Shafiullah.

Special committee to be formed in next meeting

Later, briefing the media persons, Saleem said that providing Wakf land on lease to TMREIS was not against Mansha-e-Wakf (purpose of endowment). He felt that it was better to hand over on lease to a prominent government body engaged in welfare of minorities than risk encroachment.

"Till now there are already 2,000 cases pending at various courts, hence we hope to secure these lands by giving on lease with proper lease agreement. In the next full-fledged Wakf Board meeting in the presence of MP, a committee would be formed and the Board will take forward the State government's proposal and some 20 to 25 schools will be allocated by passing a resolution," he added.

Cong protests, submits representation to chairman

Meanwhile, at Haj House, Congress leaders Osman Bin Mohammed Al-Hajri and Mohd Ghouse and other activists held dharna and submitted a representation to the Wakf Board chairman. They questioned as to how the Board could make a decision which was against the provisions of Wakf Act. "Rather than keep the promise of conferring judicial powers to the Wakf Board, the TRS government is trying to snatch away the Wakf lands. Can the government take endowment lands for similar projects?" asked the Congress leaders.

"We strongly protest against such illegal allotment of Wakf Land in-violation of its object and against the lease rules framed by the Ministry of Minorities Affairs, Government of India. We request to stop it otherwise we will organise dharnas on large scale and also will take legal proceedings," they added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the All India Majlis Inquilab-e-Millat also expressed strong reservations over the decision. They had also demanded that the Wakf Board reverse its resolution in the Board meeting.