Telangana government neglects us: Shias

Hyderabad: The Shia community is complaining of stepmotherly treatment by the state government as their religious places are not provided funds in time.

The minorities welfare department had allocated Rs 81 lakh to Shia religious places during last  Muharram. Another Rs 50 lakh was allocated this year. All India Shia Organisation president Mir Hadi Ali said the state had not fully released the Rs 81 lakh.

“A part of the money was released in 2016 and before the Muharram meeting this year a few more lakhs were given. How can work be taken up when the money is released just before the beginning of the month?” asked Mr Hadi Ali.

Shia leader Mir Firasath Ali Baqri, a Bharatiya Janata Party state spokes-person, said the government had not fulfilled its promise of releasing funds for ashoorkhanas. “The minorities welfare department is neglecting the Shia community which is a micro minority community. Announcement are made regarding allocation of funds for developmental work but nobody knows when the money is released or to whom,” he said.

A senior member of the community said, “When we come forward to take up works at important ashoor-khanas, the government denies permission. We want repairs to be carried out to protect the structures.”

MIM former MLC Syed Altaf Hyder Razvi said, “I have represented the matter at many meetings at Secretariat. I even met Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and senior officials but money is not being released,” he said.

He said that if the funds were not released in time, contractors would not take up restoration or repair work as the rates will change by the time they get the money.

When contacted TS Wakf Board chairman Mohd Saleem said the board had released the entire amount in the past fortnight.