New Delhi: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind(M) President Maulana Mahmood Madani has strongly criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s recent comments about Waqf properties, labelling them as misleading and factually incorrect. He expressed concern that the Chief Minister’s statements deliberately targeted a specific community, violating his constitutional responsibilities.
During the Maha Kumbh Mahasammelan organised by a private news channel in Lucknow, Adityanath remarked, “It is hard to tell whether it is a Waqf Board or a board of land mafias.” He added that his government had amended the Waqf Act and was investigating all “occupied” land.
Maulana Madani denounced these statements, calling them baseless and a direct affront to India’s Constitution and legal framework. He stated that equating Waqf boards with “land mafias” suggests that Waqf properties are adversarial to national interests, a notion he described as both dangerous and untrue.
Highlighting the encroachment issue, Madani noted that Waqf properties have indeed been subject to illegal occupation. He referred to a Ministry of Minority Affairs admission in Parliament on November 27, 2024, that 58,929 Waqf properties in India are under encroachment. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju acknowledged the frequent receipt of encroachment complaints, which are forwarded to state Waqf bodies for resolution.
Madani emphasised that instead of undermining the sanctity of Waqf properties, it is the constitutional duty of leaders like the Chief Minister to protect them. “Despite the existence of Waqf boards, many properties remain illegally occupied by both governmental and non-governmental entities. The Chief Minister’s statements only weaken efforts to safeguard these assets,” he asserted.
Responding to Adityanath’s claim that Waqf properties would be reclaimed for constructing homes and hospitals for the poor, Madani dismissed it as misleading and politically motivated. “Waqf lands are already dedicated to supporting the poor, orphans, and marginalised communities. Diverting these properties from their charitable purposes undermines their historical and legal significance,” he argued.
Madani called on the government to prioritise the protection of Waqf properties, strengthen Waqf boards across states, and ensure their usage aligns with their original welfare objectives. He emphasised that Waqf properties are rooted in societal welfare, guided by Islamic principles.
He further explained that Waqf boards, established under the Waqf Act of 1954, operate under state government supervision, while the Central Waqf Council functions under the Government of India. This legal framework is designed to ensure the effective management and protection of Waqf properties nationwide.
