‘Don’t know on what basis he was appointed’: Jifri Thangal questions Musthafal Faizy’s appointment to reconstituted Waqf Board
Kozhikode: Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama president Sayyid Muhammad Jifri Muthukoya Thangal on Wednesday said the Islamic scholars' body had not been consulted during the reconstitution of the state's Waqf Board, while expressing satisfaction over the appointment of M C Mayin Haji as its chairman.
Thangal noted that several Muslim organisations, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the Boro community, had been represented on the new Board in accordance with the prescribed guidelines. However, he questioned the basis for appointing M P Musthafal Faizy as a member.
"I don't know based on which norms he (Faizy) has been appointed," he said.
Faizy had earlier been suspended from Samastha's 'Mushawara', its decision-making body, following controversial remarks against Thangal.
The Samastha president also said that the faction led by Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar should have been represented on the Board, given that other organisations had been included.
Recalling the previous LDF government's tenure, Thangal said Ummer Faizi had been appointed to the Board without consulting Samastha, an organisation of Islamic scholars.
"If our opinion is sought, we will give it. Otherwise we will not comment on who is appointed to it. So, Samastha has never interfered with Board appointments," he said.
Thangal welcomed the appointment of M C Mayin Haji, an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) nominee and an associate of Samastha, as the new chairman.
"Therefore, both sides can be happy. We are completely satisfied with Mayin Haji being on the Board because he follows Samastha principles of service," he said.
Thangal added that he had asked Haji to discharge his responsibilities as chairman fairly and without bias.
New Waqf Board triggers representation concerns
The Kerala government dissolved the Waqf Board headed by K S Hamza last Friday and constituted a new nine-member body, replacing the Board formed by the previous LDF government in March this year despite more than four years remaining in its tenure.
The newly constituted Board is headed by IUML leader M C Mayin Haji. Its other members are IUML leader and MLA Kurukkoli Moideen, Musthafa Faizi, Siras D Capsi, Thodiyoor Muhammed Kunju Maulavi, Sajna Firoz, Jaseem Sabaha, Dr Abdul Majeed Swalahi and C Madina Begham.
The reconstitution prompted grievances over the exclusion of certain Muslim factions, including the group led by Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar.
On Tuesday, State Minority Welfare Minister N Samsudheen said a "consensus" had been reached with Muslim factions that had raised concerns over their lack of representation on the reconstituted Board.
Speaking to reporters, the minister said the concerns of the Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar faction of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama would be addressed by including a member of the group on the Board. (PTI)