Looted Waqf property to be retrieved, says Azam

"In the past few years, Waqf properties had been grabbed and looted on a large scale and sold away at throwaway prices to builders. All out efforts would be made to retrieve them back," Khan said while speaking as chief guest in a programme organised by the UP State Haj Committee here.

The minister said following the efforts of the state government, an increase of 4,029 seats have been made in the quota of Uttar Pradesh for the Haj pilgrimage and now the revised quota has gone up to 29,388 seats.

He said that Chief Minister Akhlesh Yadav had written a letter to the Prime Minister requesting him to increase state quota.

Khan said construction of a Haj House was proposed in Varanasi for which land was being searched.

The minister said all steps would be taken this year for a trouble-free journey and stay of Haj pilgrims.