"Why shouldn't the current board (UP Shia Central Waqf Board) be dissolved," Raza shot off, peeved over poor attendance of staff during a surprise visit to its office here.
The angry remark of the Minister of State triggered an instant protest from Board Chairman Waseem Rizvi, who saw politics in the matter.
"He (Raza) is trying to dissolve the Shia Waqf Board purely for political reasons," Rizvi said in a statement.
Rizvi alleged that before the minister reached the Waqf Board office, some unidentified persons came and told the staff that the minister might get some of them arrested.
"This created a fear psychosis among the staff who immediately left to escape the wrath of the minister," he said.
Rizvi charged Raza with levelling "baseless allegations" against it and is running a malicious campaign to defame it.
"This is indeed unfortunate. It has induced fear among the staff," the statement said.
Earlier in the day, Raza rapped the Waqf Board officials over low punctuality of staff and asked them why shouldn't the current board be dissolved.
"It seems that the officials of this department do not feel the pain of the common public, who come from far-flung places with their grievances," Raza remarked.
"We (ministers) reach office by 9.30 AM. But, even at 11.30 AM, the officials are yet to arrive," Raza observed.
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