Lucknow: Shia waqf board has returned many waqf properties to the royal family of Rampur, by saying that Ex-Minister Azam Khan has ‘encroached’ them. It is noteworthy that Azam and the royal family of Rampur have no good relations with each other and Begum Noor Bano, is the nominated member of the Shia Waqf board. Azam Khan is currently in Sitapur jail in over 100 cases.
Read also: “BJP is planning to kill me”: Azam Khan Son, Abdullah Alleged on BJP
The rivalry between Azam Khan and the royal family of Rampur is quite old. Azam Khan started his politics by giving the slogan ‘Nawab banam Awam (king Vs subjects). Azam’s attitude was openly against the Rampur’s royal family. In fact he was aggressive all the time towards the Noor Mahal. So the decision taken by Waqf board is taken as a setback to Azam Khan. In the recent elections, Azam defeated Noor bano’s son from Rampur constituency whereas Azam’s son, Abdullah defeated Noor Bano’s grandson from Swar Assembly seat.
Decision was taken on 31st March: Chairman
Shia waqf board chairman Ali Zaidi told that the decision of returning the properties to the royal family was taken on 31st March, the last meeting of the board. He added, that in Akhilesh Yadav lead the Samajwadi Party government in the state in 2012, many waqf properties were ‘encroached’ by the then Waqf Minister Azam Khan. Board has investigated all the matters and after that, it has come to the conclusion that all such properties must be returned to their legal custodian. Zaidi told Azam Khan had illegally encroached on seven succession-based waqf properties of the royal family, including the fortified mosque and an Imambara.
Read also: Azam Khan Files Nomination From Jail
The role of Wasim Rizvi, the then chairman of the Shia Waqf Board, is also in question. Wasim made an outsider Wasim Khan the caretaker of these properties. Once this was done, Azam demolished the Shaukat Ali Bazar in May 2013, though there were stay orders from the court. The Waqf board conducted an inquiry last year. Board decided to remove Waseem Khan and the grandson of Begum Noor bano Haider Ali Khan alias Hamza Miyan was declared the caretaker.