Only dishonest, not the honest people need to worry: Naqvi on

Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said the government will ensure that the Waqf land is protected and freed from illegal occupants.
He also said that only the dishonest and not the honest people need to worry, in an apparent reference to the allegation of land grabbing against former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan.
"Those who are honest need not worry, but there are some dishonest ones who should definitely worry. The honest will not be touched but the dishonest will not be allowed to go scotfree," he told reporters when asked about the allegations against Khan, who was also Waqf minister in the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government.

Asked about certain controversial statements of Khan against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders, Naqvi said "We do not believe in any competition on the use of foul language nor do we want to get into a slanging match."
The Union minister said that the government will try to ensure that Waqf land was protected and see as to how it would be freed from illegal occupants. "There will be important provisions for the same in the new Waqf law," he said.
Uttar Pradesh minister Siddhartha Nath Singh had recently said that Khan's role in the sale of property belonging to Waqf Board was being probed thoroughly.

"Prima facie, senior minister in the previous SP government Azam Khan appears to have committed irregularities in the sale of property belonging to the Waqf Board. It seems he had facilitated sale of Waqf land to different people at throwaway prices," he had told reporters.

"He could not have done so without getting something in return. The matter is being investigated thoroughly and justice will be done," he said.
Prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad had also in the past accused Khan of selling Waqf property illegally.
The SP leader has, however, denied the charges and called them "politically motivated".

Naqvi, who had a 45-minute meeting with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath this morning said it was the resolve of the party that poor people belonging to all strata of society got smile on their faces.
He added that the state government headed by Yogi Adityanath and the central government led by Narendra Modi were working in this direction.
The minister said Rs 15 crore were given to the state in the past three years for social, economic and educational welfare of minorities.
Going by this rate, none among the minorities should have been left poor, unemployed and illiterate, he said, adding that the expenditure and the work on the ground will be reviewed.

"I have told the officials that our ministers and officials and wherever necessary I myself will go to see as to how the funds sent have been utilised on the ground," he said.
Naqvi said there were 15,000 madarsas in the state which are imparting mainstream and technical education.
He stressed that his party talked about emancipation of minorities without doing vote bank politics.