YSRCP condemns misuse of Waqf lands

Tadepalli, May 29: Former MLA Mohammed Abdul Hafiz Khan criticised led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, of orchestrating a scheme to transfer valuable Waqf lands to private entities at a fraction of their worth. 
Khan alleged that lands valued at over Rs. 800 crore are being handed over for a mere Rs. 40 crore through the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APICC), in violation of Waqf regulations and public trust. “This is a blatant betrayal of the Muslim community and a calculated move to benefit the Chief Minister’s associates,” Khan declared, demanding immediate action to halt these transactions.
In Kothamallayyapalem, Guntur, 233 acres of land belonging to the Jamia Masjid are reportedly being acquired by APICC from the Waqf Board for industrial purposes at a shockingly low rate of ₹9 lakh per acre, despite a market value exceeding ₹500 crore. Khan revealed that proposals allow payment of only 25-30% of the already undervalued amount, bypassing fair market rates or public auctions. Similarly, in Mangalagiri, Waqf land worth ₹390 crore, located behind Anjuman Islamia’s NRA College, is allegedly being transferred for just ₹20 crore. In Kurnool’s Santosh Nagar, 15 acres of Waqf land under Survey No. 151 are being subdivided into plots for sale, further eroding community assets. “These lands, dedicated to Allah, cannot be sold or misused. The government’s actions are not only unethical but illegal,” Khan asserted, citing the Waqf Act and Government Order No. 60, enacted under the previous YSRCP government to protect Waqf properties from encroachment.
Khan criticized Naidu for supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill while simultaneously undermining the Muslim community through these land deals. “The Chief Minister promised to safeguard Muslim interests, yet he is facilitating a massive scam,” he said, pointing out that thousands of acres in the Capital Region Development Authority’s land bank could be used for industrial purposes instead. He called on the collectors of Guntur and Kurnool to intervene urgently to protect these lands and urged the Waqf Board CEO to uphold their responsibility.