SP, BSP regimes sold prime Waqf properties: Azam

Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan on Monday alleged that almost 90 per cent prime properties of the Waqf Board have been "sold to builders by previous Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi party governments" and vowed to bring a legislation to restore them back to the board.

Presenting the budget of Muslim welfare in the Vidhan Sabha, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Khan said in the previous five years of the BSP government and "also during the earlier government led by the Samajwadi Party", prime properties were sold to builders.

Earlier, Azam had warned land sharks occupying Waqf properties that their land would be seized.

The state government would bring a law to restore them back to the Waqf Board, he said, adding that "we came to know of these deals during the then SP government."

The massive buildings built over them would also become a part of the Waqf, said Azam.

Claiming that there was a need to ensure uplift of one-fifth of the population -- minorities --  Khan said the SP government was the first in the country which has implemented the "basic ethos of the Sachchar commission."

There has been a rise of 81.37 per cent in the budget for minority development, he said.

Khan, who is also the minority welfare minister, alleged that the BSP government did not act to ensure education for the minorities.

Mayawati government kept the file of Rs 90 crore central funds, meant for minorities, so that its next installments could not be provided to the state, alleged Azam.

Later, the House passed the budget worth Rs 1673.82 crore by a voice vote.