As per the reply to the RTI filed by Ajay Bose, the Delhi government granted-
Rs. 1,25,00,000 in F.Y. 2015-16
Rs. 1,37,00,000 in F.Y. 2016-17
Rs. 5,00,00,000 in F.Y. 2017-18
Rs. 8,85,69,000 in F.Y. 2018-19
Rs. 22,72,50,000 in F.Y. 2019-20
Rs. (NIL) in 2020-21
Rs. 62,57,50,000 in F.Y. 2021-22
Between F.Y. (2015-16) to F.Y. (2018-19), the grant to the Waqf Board saw an increase of Rs. 7,60,69,000; 600%.
However, the real jump was seen in the next fiscal year; from Rs. 8,85,69,000 in F.Y. (2018-19) to Rs. 22,72,50,000 in F.Y. (2019-20); an increase of Rs. 13,86,81,000.
The fact, that the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections took place in February 2020 (within the same fiscal), is bound to create controversy.
Furthermore, F.Y. (2020-21) saw the outbreak of Covid-19, causing widespread economic disruption, which translates into the sudden halt in government grants to the Waqf Board.
However, in the next fiscal (2021-22) itself, the amount rose to Rs. 62,57,50,000; an increase of Rs. 39,85,00,000.
This humongous rise in grants to a religious body, right after the deadly second wave, is another issue that rival parties can use to gherao AAP government.
