The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Parliamentary committee on Wakf calls off meeting

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Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Parliamentary committee on Wakf calls off meeting

Special Correspondent

It was scheduled to interact with public and intellectuals

- Photo: Mohd Yousuf

Agitated lot: Minority community members arguing with Wakf Board Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Madar Saheb in Hyderabad on Monday.

HYDERABAD: A Joint Parliamentary Committee on Wakf was forced to call off an interaction session with public and intellectuals at the Haj House here on Monday as a crowd gave vent to its anger at the panel for turning up late by over three hours.

Amidst strong protests and slogan shouting, the committee headed by K. Rahman Khan completed the formalities by collecting individual petitions seeking protection of Wakf properties. Mr. Khan expressed helplessness over rescheduling of the programme of the panel which led to the delayed arrival of the members.

He maintained that the committee could not go into the arrangements as it was the responsibility of the local administration. The panel was solely interested in gathering suggestions on how best to amend the Wakf Act. The committee was appointed as affairs related to Wakf properties all over the country were not on right track.

Earlier, the eight-member committee headed by Mr. Khan, who is the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, had a closed door meeting with Wakf Board officials and a selective gathering of `muthavalis’ (caretakers), ulemas, political leaders and advocates. This meeting took place instead of the scheduled interaction session.

Taking exception to the revised schedule, activists of Telugu Desam Party, Telangana Rashtra Samiti and Jammetul Mashaiq stormed the hall on the eleventh floor of the Haj House and obstructed the proceedings for a long time.

The crowd shouted slogans against Wakf Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir and Wakf Board Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Madar Saheb. They alleged that the Government organised the meeting only with Congress representatives so as to ensure that the committee did not get adverse feedback.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Khan said the panel would visit disputed Wakf properties around the State capital on Tuesday and round off its visit with a meeting with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials on Wednesday. The committee would videograph important properties.

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