AP Waqf Board Members Stage Unprecedented Boycott Over Chairman's Conduct
In a dramatic turn of events, all members of the Andhra Pradesh State Waqf Board abstained from attending a scheduled board meeting on Thursday. This collective absence marks what is believed to be the first instance in the board's history where every member chose to stay away from an official gathering.
Protest Against 'Unilateral' Decisions and Procedural Violations
Sources close to the development revealed that the members, all of whom belong to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), boycotted the meeting as a form of protest against what they described as "unilateral" decisions taken by board chairman Abdul Azeez. The discontent stems from a significant breach of established protocol.
According to the Waqf board's own regulations, the agenda for any meeting must be circulated to members at least 10 days in advance. However, in this case, members were reportedly informed about the meeting only through a WhatsApp message sent around 11 pm on Wednesday night—barely 12 hours before the scheduled start time.
This last-minute notification, communicated informally through a messaging app, sparked strong resentment among the board members. They expressed anger over what they termed an "arbitrary and disrespectful" approach by the chairman, questioning how they could be expected to attend an important statutory meeting with such inadequate notice.
Government Displeasure and Warnings Issued
The controversy is not isolated. Sources indicated that the government had previously expressed serious displeasure over some decisions taken by the Waqf board chairman. Officials warned against actions that could potentially harm minority interests or bring disrepute to the government.
Senior officials reportedly cautioned the chairman against his arbitrary functioning and advised strict adherence to established procedures. This backdrop of tension likely contributed to the members' decision to boycott the meeting en masse.
Conflicting Accounts from Board Officials
When contacted for comment, Waqf board CEO Mohammed Ali offered a different perspective. He stated that some members abstained from the meeting due to personal reasons and denied a complete boycott. "There is no truth in saying that all members boycotted the meeting. A few members attended the meeting," Ali told reporters. However, he refused to provide further details or specify how many members were present.
Political Protests Over Waqf Properties
Meanwhile, the political dimension of the issue intensified as the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) minority wing staged a protest near the Waqf board office. The demonstration opposed the coalition government's perceived move to take over Waqf properties.
Prominent figures including former MLA Hafeez Khan, MLC Ruhulla, Guntur city YSRCP president Noori Fatima, and members of the party's minority cell participated in the protest. Hafeez Khan alleged that while Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had promised to protect the properties and rights of minorities, the state government supported the new Waqf Board Act in the Lok Sabha instead of opposing it.
Noori Fatima further claimed that there is an ongoing attempt to encroach upon Waqf properties in Guntur city, adding to the charged atmosphere surrounding the board's operations.
This incident underscores the deepening rifts within the AP Waqf Board, highlighting concerns over governance, procedural integrity, and the protection of minority assets in the state.
