New Delhi [India], August 15 (HBTV): Several Imams of Delhi Waqf alleged non-payment of salary even after the central government allocated grants in this regard and demanded an investigation pointing out discrepancies. 

Qari Gyasur Hassan, a WAQF Imam in Delhi, voiced his frustration, saying, "We have been troubled about our salaries for nearly eight years. Since the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power, and Amanatullah Khan became the Chairman, we have faced repeated delays." 

He alleged that their salaries have been delayed for up to 25 months and said that their efforts to meet the Chief Minister and other officials failed. "There are around 185 Imams in Delhi whose salaries have been stopped. I have also met the CO, I also went to Arvind Kejriwal's residence, but we couldn't meet Arvind Kejriwal. I also went to meet Atishi, but nothing was happening. The way our salary of 20-25 months is stopped, this never happened before," Qari Gyasur Hassan said while speaking to ANI. 

Mufti Mohammed Qasim of the Anglo Arabic School alleged that the Masjid section of the WAQF board misled higher officials by providing incorrect reports, leading to the erroneous classification of Imams as illegal. "This matter has been ongoing for a long time. Some Imams have not been paid for almost 30 months, and some for 15-16 months," he said.

He added that the government's substantial grant to the WAQF board has not helped in timely payments for the Imams. "This situation warrants a thorough investigation," the Imam said. 

(ANI)