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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Orphan|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Salim Raj
| image = Dr.Salim Raj.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Indore]], [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office = Cabinet Minister, [[Government of Chhattisgarh]]
| 1blankname = Chief Minister
| 1namedata = [[Vishnu Deo Sai]]
| term_start = January 2025
| term_end =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| office1 = Chairman, Chhattisgarh Waqf Board
| 1blankname1 =
| 1namedata1 =
| term_start1 = January 2025
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| constituency3 =
| term_start3 =
| term_end3 =
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
| office4 =
| president4 =
| constituency4 =
| term_start4 =
| term_end4 =
| successor4 =
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| spouse = Reshma Raj

| children = 3
| website =
| footnotes =
| source =
| parents =
| country = [[India]]
| profession = Agriculture and Business
| alma_mater =
}}

'''Salim Raj''' is an [[Indian politician]] and serves as a [[Cabinet Minister]] in the [[Government of Chhattisgarh]].<ref>{{cite web |title=छत्तीसगढ़: वक्फ बोर्ड अध्यक्ष डॉ. सलीम राज को मिला कैबिनेट मंत्री का दर्जा |url=https://www.amarujala.com/chhattisgarh/wakf-board-chairman-dr-salim-raj-gets-the-status-of-cabinet-minister-in-chhattisgarh-2025-01-08 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=डॉ. सलीम राज बोले-अदालत का विकल्प भी: वक्फ संपत्तियों पर काबिज दुकानदारों, घर मालिकों को किराएदार बनाएगा बोर्ड - Raipur News |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/chhattisgarh/raipur/news/dr-salim-raj-said-there-is-also-the-option-of-court-134692531.html |website=Dainik Bhaskar |language=hi |date=23 March 2025}}</ref> He holds the position of Chairman of the [[Central Waqf Council|Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board]]. He is also the State In-Charge of the BJP's Minority Morcha in [[Chhattisgarh]].<ref name="IE">{{cite web |title='Political statement or remarks against govt… can lead to FIR': Chhattisgarh Waqf Board 'vets' Friday sermons |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/chhattisgarh-waqf-board-sermons-political-statement-remarks-against-govt-fir-9679505/ |website=The Indian Express |language=en |date=20 November 2024}}</ref>

== Political career ==
Salim Raj joined the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] in 1992 and held various positions within the BJP Minority Morcha before being appointed to the BJP's leading body in 2004. In 2010, he served as the National Treasurer of the BJP Minority Morcha. From 2011 to 2014, he was a member of the Haj Committee of India, where he coordinated pilgrimage services and welfare programs for Haj pilgrims at both the state and national levels. He also played a significant role in the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, a national forum affiliated with the BJP.<ref name="IE"/>

Raj was appointed as State President, BJP Minority Cell in 2016. And in 2021, he became a Member of the BJP State Executive Committee & State In-Charge, [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP Minority Morcha]]. He was the Chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Haj Committee (State Minister Status), under the [[Third Raman Singh ministry|government of Raman Singh]]. During this position, he has spearheaded initiatives in education, economic development, and social harmony across [[Chhattisgarh]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Chhattisgarh: 'Owaisi is second variant of Jinnah,' says BJP Minority Morcha President Jamal Siddiqui |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/chhattisgarh-owaisi-is-second-variant-of-jinnah-says-bjp-minority-morcha-president-jamal-siddiqui20230204000827/ |website=ANI}}</ref>

In 2025, He was elected as Chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board.<ref>{{cite web |title=अविश्वास प्रस्ताव से हटाए गए वक्फ बोर्ड के चेयरमैन, डॉ. सलीम राज बनाए गए नए अध्यक्ष |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/chhattisgarh/raipur/news/wakf-board-chairman-removed-by-no-confidence-motion-dr-salim-raj-appointed-as-the-new-president-133805619.html |website=Bhaskar}}</ref> And in January 2025, he became the Cabinet Minister in the Vishnu Deo [[Sai ministry]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Cabinet Minister Dr Salim Raj: छत्तीसगढ़ वक्फ बोर्ड के अध्यक्ष डॉ सलीम राज को मिला कैबिनेट मंत्री का दर्जा, आदेश जारी {{!}} Cabinet Minister Dr Salim Raj: Dr. Salim Raj got status of Cabinet Minister |url=https://www.patrika.com/raipur-news/cabinet-minister-dr-salim-raj-dr-salim-raj-got-status-of-cabinet-minister-19300942 |website=Patrika News |language=hi |date=9 January 2025}}</ref>

==Waqf Amendment Act (2025)==
Raj endorsed the central government's [[The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025]], as a transformative step to recover encroached Waqf assets and empower minority communities. Highlighting that about 85% of Waqf land in Chhattisgarh was illegally occupied, he stressed the need for legal clarity and institutional transparency.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chhattisgarh: BJP Leader Salim Raj Slams Congress Over Waqf Amendment Bill |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/chhattisgarh-bjp-leader-salim-raj-slams-congress-over-waqf-amendment-bill |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=बदतर स्थिति में मुसलमान, पहले पढ़ें बिल, फिर करें विरोध: सलीम राज |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hi/!bharat/muslims-are-in-worse-situation-first-read-waqf-amendment-bill-then-protest-salim-raj-chhattisgarh-waqf-board-chairman-hindi-news-ctn25041505435 |website=ETV Bharat News |language=hi |date=15 April 2025}}</ref>

==Friday sermons==
Raj introduced a policy requiring prior approval for sermon content in 1,822 mosques across the state, aimed at curbing political messaging within religious platforms. This decision drew both support and criticism, with opponents citing religious freedom concerns.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chhattisgarh Waqf Board to review Friday sermons to prevent political speeches in mosques |url=https://scroll.in/latest/1075779/chhattisgarh-waqf-board-to-review-friday-sermons-to-prevent-political-speeches-in-mosques |website=Scroll.in |language=en |date=18 November 2024}}</ref>

To prevent political sermons, he established a vetting system via WhatsApp groups for mosque sermons—covering over 1,800 mosques—and mandated prior content approval.<ref name="IE"/>

==Nikah ceremony charges==
In June 2025, Raj capped fees for mosque officials conducting [[Nikah ceremony|Nikah ceremonies]] at ₹1,100, seeking to make the event affordable for economically challenged families. He warned that violations would draw official action.<ref>{{cite web |title=CG Waqf Board caps 'Nikah' fee at 1,100 with directive |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/cg-waqf-board-caps-nikah-fee-at-1100-with-directive/articleshow/121605282.cms |website=The Times of India |date=3 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaiser |first1=Ejaz |title=Chhattisgarh Waqf Board caps Nikah Khutba charges at Rs 1100; Muslim scholars question move |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jun/07/chhattisgarh-waqf-board-caps-nikah-khutba-charges-at-rs-1100-muslim-scholars-question-move |website=The New Indian Express |language=en |date=7 June 2025}}</ref>

==Threats and security==
Following his policies regulating mosque discourse, Raj received reported death threats from sources in [[Pakistan]], [[Afghanistan]], and [[Kerala]]. He filed a police complaint, leading to ongoing investigations.<ref>{{cite web |title=छत्तीसगढ़ वक्फ बोर्ड के चेयरमैन को पाकिस्तान से धमकी: डॉक्टर सलीम ने थाने में की शिकायत; तकरीर के टॉपिक के लिए इजाजत लेने कहा था - Chhattisgarh News |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/chhattisgarh/raipur/news/chhattisgarh-waqf-board-chairman-received-threat-from-pakistan-134022327.html |website=Dainik Bhaskar |language=hi |date=26 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Chhattisgarh: CG Waqf Board Chairman Dr. Salim Raj Receives Life Threats From Pakistan; Probe Underway |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/chhattisgarh-cg-waqf-board-chairman-dr-salim-raj-receives-life-threats-from-pakistan-probe-underway |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raj, Salim}}
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:People from Chhattisgarh]]

Salim Raj - Revision history

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