Waqf Act amendment will increase income of board: MP Waqf chief

Bhopal: BJP spokesperson and state Waqf Board chairman Sanwar Patel on Thursday said that the amendment aims to remove discrepancies in Waqf Act and to give rights to the real owners of Waqf properties.The changes are being made after taking suggestions from 2 crore people for the uplift of poor Muslims, Patel said at a press conference at the state BJP HQ here. He alleged that opposition Congress and Samajwadi Party, and the land mafia, are conspiring to incite people against the Waqf Amendment Bill."The Modi govt has brought Waqf Amendment Bill in the interest of Muslim community. There are many communities among Muslims, like Bohra, Khani, Pasmanda, that do not have any representation in Waqf Board. These societies repeatedly demanded representation in the Board. With this bill, women will also get representation in Waqf Board," Patel said."Waqf Amendment Bill will give representation to every section of Muslims, women and poor. Congress is not bothered about welfare of Muslims. It wants to mislead people for votebank," Patel alleged, arguing that Waqf Amendment Bill will bring about transparency in functioning of Waqf Board and increase its income.Patel said there are 15,008 Waqf properties under the Board in Madhya Pradesh. "At present, we do not get an annual income of Rs 2 crore from these properties. Once the Bill is passed and once it comes under land and lease rules and regulations, the income from these properties will be at least Rs 100 crore per annum," Patel said.He said that after the proposed amendments, Waqf Board throughout the country is expected to have an income of about Rs 12,000 crores and this money will be used only for Muslim society for education, health and employment. "Neither Muslims of India nor the rest of the people are opposing this bill. Everyone welcomes it," he said.