Maharashtra to give Rs 2 crore to strengthen Waqf Board, Hindu body opposes

The Maharashtra government has decided to give Rs 2 crore to the Waqf Board for the welfare of minorities, a move that has been opposed by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).

According to a government resolution from the Minority Development Department dated June 10, the Waqf Board will receive Rs 2 crore from the Rs 10 crore budgeted for minority welfare for the financial year 2024-25. This circular was issued by Moin Tashlidar, Deputy Secretary in the Maharashtra government.

The Konkan division secretary of the VHP, Mohan Salekar, told India Today that they are against the state government's decision to allocate funds to the Waqf Board.

"Maha Yuti government was doing what even the Congress government did not do. Appeasement of the religious community. If this decision is not reversed, Maha Yuti parties will have to face the wrath of Hindus in the upcoming elections to local bodies and the assembly."

The current allocation is the result of the joint parliamentary committee on Waqf constituted in 2007. The committee inspected the functioning of the Maharashtra State Waqf Board and its properties. Following this visit, the then chief minister promised grants to the board, after which budget allocations were made.

Mufti Manzur Ziyaee, meanwhile, said, "We are happy that the government has approved 20 per cent of the money allocated for the welfare of minorities to the Waqf Board. The funds can now be used for betterment of the community. The decision should not be seen through a political lens, as the funds were already earmarked for this purpose before elections."

Reacting to the protest by VHP, Shiv Sena UBT MP, Sanjay Raut said, "They can protest. Who has stopped them? They have brought this government."