Aurangabad, 19th October 2023: The Maharashtra Waqf Board is facing grave allegations of corruption, maladministration, and a lack of empowerment of the Muslim community in the state. These claims have emerged in the wake of revelations regarding extensive land scams in several cities, including Pune, Solapur, Satara, Kolhapur, and Mumbai.
Activists from various regions of the state convened for a peaceful demonstration outside the Ritz Hotel, where the Waqf Board was conducting a meeting at 4:30 PM. Despite the Aurangabad police’s refusal to permit the protest, they allowed a delegation of citizen activists to meet with the board members within the hotel.
The activists assert that the Waqf Board, which comprises elected and appointed members, including legislators and parliamentarians, has fallen short in its responsibility to safeguard and develop Waqf properties for the betterment of the impoverished Muslim community in the state.
In a press release issued by the activists, who operate under the banner of the Maharashtra Waqf Liberation and Protection Taskforce, it was stated, “Widespread encroachments are taking place on Waqf properties, and the board remains inactive.”
The protesters emphasized the necessity for cutting-edge facilities such as hospitals, colleges, skill development centers, universities, women’s colleges, nursing institutes, stadiums, sports complexes, schools, art and craft centers, and scholarship programs. The release further added, “The board is not empowering the community as mandated by the government; instead, it’s disempowering them.”
The activists’ demonstration is an attempt to hold the Waqf Board accountable and remind them of their obligations to the community and the nation. They contend that with properties valued at crores of rupees under its jurisdiction, the board should cease “harassing citizens for application fees” and instead concentrate on development projects that bring tangible benefits to the Muslim community.
The accusations presented by the activists have raised significant concerns about the Waqf Board’s commitment to the welfare of the Muslim community in Maharashtra.
