Raza for probe into soiled waqf files

LUCKNOW: Power tussle between minority affairs minister, Mohsin Raza, and chairman, Shia Waqf Board, Waseem Rizvi took a new turn when Raza expressed his displeasure with the management once again after he found the waqf board offices closed on Thursday. When he enquired, the minister was told that the board always observed a holiday on 22 Rajab, according to the Islamic calendar, which fell on Thursday.

However, the explanation failed to pacify Raza. “Only a handwritten note displayed at the entrance said the office was closed on account of a holiday without carrying the signature of the authority who had issued the order,” the minister said.

“Since 22 Rajab was not listed as a government holiday, the offices should not have been closed,” he added.

This was the minority affairs minister’s second visit to the waqf board offices within a fortnight. The Shia Waqf Board office is on the eighth floor on Indira Bhawan and the Sunni Waqf Board office is in Mall Avenue. In Sunni Waqf Board office, the minister found some torn and soiled waqf board files in the boot of a condemned motor vehicle. He called police and asked them to seize the documents and register a case into the matter.

Recently, the Central Waqf Council had asked the state government to dissolve the two boards and appoint an inquiry commission to probe alleged irregularities of the present managements.

MINISTER WAS TOLD THAT THE BOARD OBSERVED A HOLIDAY ON 22 RAJAB, AS PER THE ISLAMIC CALENDAR, WHICH FELL ON THURSDAY.