Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Sigh Badal today said that the state government would take every possible step to evict unauthorized encroachments from the properties of the Punjab Waqf Board so that the income from them could be aptly utilized for the overall development and welfare of the Muslim community in the state.
Addressing the mammoth gathering of the Muslim community here in a conference to mark the constitution of ‘Amarat-e-Sharia’(Muslim Welfare and Shariat Society) under the leadership of Chairman Punjab Waqf Board Mr Mohammed Izhar Aalam here today, the Chief Minister said that in order to ensure proper maintenance of the properties of Punjab Waqf Board across the state, the SAD-BJP government had reconstituted this board. He categorically said that if any matter pertaining to the unauthorized encroachments on property of the Board was pending than the state government would promptly take the necessary action for getting it evicted.
Lauding the efforts of constituting ‘Amarat-e-Sharia’, the Chief Minister said that it would help in bringing the entire Muslim brethren on one platform which would go a long way in ensuring the progress and development of the community. He said that it was really admirable that the most important motive of the ‘Amarat-e-Sharia’ was to strengthen the bond of love, harmony and brotherhood with the other religions. Recalling the age old ties between the Muslim and Sikh Communities, Mr Badal said that both the communities shared a rich bond of traditions amongst themselves, the testimony to which was that the Sikh Gurus had urged a Muslim Saint Sain Mian Mir to lay down the foundation stone of Sri Harmandir Sahib, the most revered place of Sikhs.
Reiterating the commitment of the state government towards promoting brotherhood and amity in the state, the Chief Minister said that the biggest achievement of their government was that it had ensured communal harmony and peace in the state. Mr Badal said that despite of being a border state their government has assured that no untoward incident takes place in the state adding that thrust has been laid towards maintaining proper law and order situation in the state.
Listing the initiatives taken by the SAD-BJP government to ensure the welfare of the Muslim brethren, the Chief Minister said that in order to safeguard the interests’ of the minorities in the state and to ensure their well being, their government has constituted Punjab Minority commission and three members of this commission belonged to the Muslim community. Mr Badal further said that he had already directed the Panchayats and Government officers across the state to provide adequate land for the burial ground of Muslims adding that in case the land was not available they have been directed to purchase the land and provide it to the community. He said that in another important effort the state government has widened the ambit of Shagun scheme and its benefits have now been extended to the Muslim and Christian communities also. The Chief Minister further said that for the promotion of Urdu literature and language, an Urdu Academy has been already set up at Malerkotla itself and now the state government would lay special emphasis on imparting technical training to the youth of the community, so that adequate opportunities of self employment could be provided to them. Mr Badal also said that the state government was duty bound to make endeavors for the economic development of the Muslim community by providing them quality educational facilities. Expressing gratitude to the wise voters of Malerkotla for electing Mrs Farzana Nisaara Khatoon as their MLA, he said that no stone would be left unturned for ensuring the development of this constituency.
In his address the Chairman of Punjab Waqf Board Mr Mohammed Izhar Aalam said that the sole aim of constituting ‘Amarat-e-Sharia’ was to ensure the development of the Muslim community of the state by uniting them. He said that apart from this the organization would also work towards strengthening the ties with other communities also. He said that in order to provide quality education to the Muslim community the society was constructing a convent school at village Jamalpur (Malerkotla). Thanking the Chief Minister for taking path breaking initiatives for the welfare of the community, Mr Aalam urged him to pass the necessary directions to the officers for implementing the schemes of welfare for the community in the right earnest.
On the occasion Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mrs Farzana Nisaara Khatoon announced a sum of Rs 10 lakh for the society.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Rajya Sabha MP Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mrs Farzana Nisaara Khatoon.