'Report on Wakf property encroachment ignored'

BJP spokesperson Anwar Manippadi has accused the state government of failing to table his report on the encroachment of Wakf properties before the House.

Manippadi, who is former chairperson of the State Minorities Commission, told reporters on Tuesday that the Supreme Court had dismissed a special leave petition filed by the state government on March 15.

“The state government is required to submit the report now. Instead, the state government filed a petition challenging a High Court order of March 28, 2016, which directed the government to place the report in both Houses of the legislature. Even the privileges committee of the Karnataka Legislative Council had recommended the state government to place the report before the House. The report had recommended that the encroached Wakf properties, including three medical colleges, 12 engineering colleges, hundreds of professional colleges, hotels should be reclaimed. The coalition government feared that if they place the report before the House, then 12 to 14 leaders from the coalition will have to serve jail,” he alleged.

‘Inevitable for growth’

Stating that the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is inevitable for the growth and development of the country, Manippadi that the BJP government believes in the ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ slogan, without discriminating on the basis of caste, creed and religion.

When asked about BJP leader K S Eshwarappa’s statement that Muslims do not trust the BJP, Manippadi said, “Eshwarappa has been misquoted. He reportedly said that the BJP wants Muslims to grow in the party. Even I was asked to contest the elections, but I chose not to, because we have to win the elections and not lose.”

Lashing heavily on AICC president Rahul Gandhi for choosing Wayanad as his second seat along with Amethi, Manippadi said, “He is scared of losing from Amethi, which is dominated by the majority population. Wayanad, instead, is dominated by minorities and Rahul Gandhi is misusing their emotions in order to win the elections in Wayanad.”