With an aim to pressurize the government for a pragmatic approach towards safeguarding the interests of the minorities in the state, the United Muslim Federation has planned a ‘Hunger Strike’ on December 12 at Dharna Chowk in the city demanding reforms in minority institutions especially in the Wakf Board.
It is said that the city police has already given its consent for the protest programme from 12.00 to 4.00 pm on the scheduled day.
Elucidating about the programme, Moulana Hakeem Sufi Syed Shah Khairuddin Quadri, the President United Muslim Federation, said, “As all the minority institutions, perceived to have been formed to benefit Muslims, become defunct thereby killing the very purpose.”
“While most of the wakf lands in the city and elsewhere are waning out due to brazen level of encroachments, the threat is looming large at left over properties too while the board officials keep on playing the role of mute spectators all these years that resulted into huge lose to the board,” he blamed.
Despite having a rich board with whopping revenue sources, he said, not a single drop of economic benefit has been reaching poor Muslims for which the board was established. “The poor families from Muslim community has completely depends on welfare measures of the government despite the fact that they have a board solely established to ensure their economic welfare,” argued Moulana Khairuddin Quadri.
“While lack of judicial power has turn the wakf board helpless in safeguarding its properties spread across the state, the absence of CEO since last several months too make the board a complete non-functional Muslim institution. It is against this background, we have planned a protest on December 12 at Dharna Chowk,” explained Moulana Quadri.
Apart from seeking measures to safeguard Wakf properties and conferring judicial powers to the board, he said, we also put forth demands like revision of salaries to Imaams and Mozzins, Rs.10,000 aid to poor families for performing funerals and 65 square yards of land to poor families on lease.
