LUCKNOW: Calling the Waqf Boards’ action as that the one resembling ‘land mafias’, UP CM Yogi Adityanath accused the Board of encroaching on public and historical lands across the state arbitrarily.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion to mark the birth anniversary of ‘Nishad Raj Guh’ who, as a friend, a companion, had helped Lord Ram in crossing rivers during his exile, in Shringverpur in Prayagraj, CM Yogi warned that the Waqf board's "arbitrary claims" over public properties and historical sites would no longer be tolerated in Uttar Pradesh.
"Those who are loyal to the nation will always find their path ahead," he said, narrating how during the preparations for Mahakumbh, the Waqf Board in UP had claimed that the land for religious congregation belonged to it.
The chief minister also claimed that the Waqf Board's actions resembled those of a "land mafia".
"The Waqf Board had been making baseless claims over lands across cities. Even during the preparations for the Kumbh Mela, they declared that the event's land belonged to them. We had to ask if the Waqf Board had become a land mafia?" Yogi said.
He emphasised that under his government, such encroachments had been removed, and mafias had been driven out of Uttar Pradesh.
He said the significant Waqf Amendment Bill would put all such arbitrary claims to rest. The Bill has already been passed in Lok Sabha and was being debated in the upper house.
“This Bill will ensure that the Waqf Board remains focused only on welfare activities. Mafia activities will not be allowed and tolerated in UP as the state has already been rid of them,” asserted the UP CM while addressing the gathering in Shringverpur.
"Encroachments were made in the name of Waqf at various places, including the sacred land associated with Nishad Raj. But this will not be allowed anymore. A grand and divine Mahakumbh Mela was organised despite their objections," he said.
UP CM’s comment came hours after the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha amid the ongoing political furore. The chief minister also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for taking legislative action against the alleged irregularities of the Waqf Board.
"We are grateful to the prime minister and the home minister for ensuring that the Waqf Board's arbitrary practices are curbed," he stated.
