Samajwadi Party demands judicial probe into Wakf land deal

Mumbai, July 6 (UNI) Calling for probe by a sitting High Court Judge in the allotment of the prime Wakf land to business tycoon Mukesh Ambani for the construction of a 27-storey palatial building, Maharashtra Samajwadi Party Chief Abu Asim Azmi today criticised the Wakf Board for the alleged deal.

''A Parliamentary Commitee has recently exposed the irregularities in the transfer of the ownership of several Wakf lands in Mumbai, Aurangabad and other parts of Mumbai.

''However, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has shrugged off his responsibility from the whole issue, saying that the Wakf Board had already given a no-objection certificate to Mr Ambani,'' Mr Azmi said while addressing a media conference.

Responding to query on the CBI inquiry in the alleged irregularities, Mr Azmi said that his party did not have faith in the investigating agency, as it was under the Union Government, and for this simple reason his demand was for a judicial probe.

Opposing the demand of dissolving the Wakf Boards in some States, Mr Azmi said the efforts should be made to strengthen the Wakf Boards.

UNI