Hyderabad: Representatives of the Shia community expres-sed resentment over the indifferent attitude sho-wn by government towards arrangements in connection with the Ashoora.
Welfare minister Koppula Eshwar reviewed arrangements for the Ashoora in which all departments concerned assured him of foolproof arrangements, but many works identified in such meetings did not materialise. The state has about 11,000 ashoor-khanas registered with the Wakf Board and most of them are in a dilapidated condition.
Shia members said that only two days are left for the commencement of the mourning days, while the Ashoora will probably fall on September 10. Once the Alam (standard) is installed no work can be carried out in the ashoorkhanas.
Moulana Dr Syed Nisar Husain Hyder Agha, president, Majlis-e-Ulema Zakireen and member, Wakf Board, said there was a need to draw up an action plan to strengthen the ashoorkhanas.
Mr Mir Firasat Ali Baquari, spokesperson of the BJP Minority Morcha, said that though the GHMC has announced that it will carry out civic works worth `4.5 crore, this will take time.
He said that the Wakf Board has sanctioned only `10 lakh for Moharram and this is not sufficient. He demanded that government allocate a special budget of `100 crore for restoration and preservation of ashoorkhanas. He said that government was concentrating on ashoorkhanas situated in Hyderabad and ignoring ashoorkhanas of districts. Mr Mir Hadi Ali, president, All India Shia Organisation, stressed on the completion of pending works on a war footing.
He informed the meeting that the former managing committee of Ashoorkhana Imamba-ada Rein Bazaar has deposited `1 lakh in the Wakf Board as a contribution towards repair works, but works were not started so far.
Minister Eshwar instructed officials to complete pending works before the ensuing holy months. Officials of various departments informed the meeting about their arrangements during Moharram and the procession of Ashoora.
Wakf Board chairman Mohammed Saleem informed that the board had released `11.55 lakh.
Ministers Mohammed Mahmood Ali, Talasani Srinivas Rao and Mr Ch. Malla Reddy, Chief Minister’s adviser on minority affairs A. K. Khan and director, minorities welfare, Mr Shahnawaz Qasim and MLAs, MLCs and others participated.
