NWDC disruption: Protester takes gloss out of gloating PM

Months before the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday presented a gift to Muslims by rolling out a “Sharia-compliant” National Waqf Development Corporation at a function which witnessed a brief disruption as a man loudly complained of non-implementation of schemes meant for welfare of Minority community.

“This Corporation has been established with an authorized share capital of Rs 500 crore. It will facilitate and mobilize financial resources for setting up of facilities like schools, colleges, hospitals on Waqf properties for community purposes in a transparent manner,” Singh said in the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Over 4.9 lakh registered waqf properties across the country fetch an annual income of about Rs 163 crore. Many of these properties have the potential of generating considerable returns.

Soon after Singh finished his speech highlighting the steps taken by his government for the welfare of Minority, a person from the audience rose up from his seat shouting that the Prime Minister should not launch any more new schemes as those already rolled out have not been implemented.

Security personnel deployed at the venue immediately overpowered the man and bundled him out of the auditorium.

Later, the man identified himself as Faheem Baig, a doctor and social activist residing in Jafrabad in northeastern Delhi. Baig told reporters that he had written 150 letters to the Prime Minister, sharing his grievances and seeking an audience, but he had not received even an acknowledgement.