Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 30: Former chairman of Karnataka State Minorities Development Corporation, N B Abubaker, alleged that encroachment and annexing of Wakf property has been on the rise in the state after the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah rose to power. He accused Wakf and minorities welfare minister, Qamarul Islam, of being involved with these illegal acts. He therefore, demanded resignation of Qaramul Islam from the ministry and also from the post of legislator.

He was addressing a press conference here on Wednesday October 29.

Abubaker said that thousands of acres of land that was donated in the name of the Almighty for being distributed among financially backward Muslim families had been usurped by influential people. 'About 30,000 Wakf institutions in the state totally own about 19,000 acres of land. Already 180 cases of encroachment have been filed relating these lands. Several other cases are still to come into the open. The Wakf minister, who has annexed land owned by Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah in survey No. 12 in Gulbarga Badepura is also involved several cases. He has carved out house sites in this land and sold them. The Lokayukta judge, who has ordered an investigation into the irregularities in this connection, has sought report by the end of this year, he claimed. Abubaker reiterated his stand that the minister should tender his resignation because of his illegal deeds.

State BJP Minority Morcha secretary, M Salim Ambagilu, Anwar Riko of BJP Minority Morcha, Antony Nakre, district president, Jerald Fernandes, and Sandhya Ramesh were present.