Wakf chairman vows to rebuild razed masjid

Nampally: In the wake of demolition of religious structures (200-year old Masjid and Ashoorkhana) in Amberpet, TS Wakf Board Chairman Md Saleem has assured to initiate an action against those who allegedly "sold out the Wakf property to GHMC" (purportedly for Rs 6 crore).

He also asserted that the structures would be rebuilt. As a symbolism of his seriousness over the issue, he said that he would pray Zohr (afternoon prayers) at the site on Saturday.

Both TS Wakf Board and GHMC drew flak over demolition of the 200-year old mosque and other religious structures. They were razed during early hours on Thursday for road widening by GHMC at Amberpet (Read --- '200-yr-old masjid razed; MIM, MBT condemn act' published on May 3).

Muslim leaders, cutting across the political spectrum, have strongly condemned the action and demanded Masjid and Ashoorkhana, 419 sq yards and 359 sq yards, respectively, to be reconstructed. After MIM and MBT leaders took up the issue, some other socio-religious organisations also took a strong note of the development on Thursday.

By Friday, the issue simmered and several leaders representing different organisations, besides Amberpet's local leaders, held dharna at Haj House. MIM leader from Amberpet, Mohammed, Congress leader and Wakf Activist, Osman Al Hajri, Md Shareef, Samad, Farooq and others were also seen arguing with the Wakf chairman.

"A criminal case shall be booked against those who are involved, as this remains a Wakf property. The person who sold out the property misguided the GHMC with different door numbers. We are writing letters to GHMC Commissioner Dana Kishore.

Wakf Board shall protect the religious structures across Telangana, as our government remains adhered to Secular values. I shall personally take up this issue for reconstruction of the structure and shall be praying on Saturday afternoon," Md Saleem said.

Describing the act as a total negligence of Wakf Board, Osman Al-Hajri demanded that the GHMC official, Sattar of Town Planning Wing, and Maqbool, who claimed to be the owner and sold out the property to GHMC, should be arrested and booked under relevant sections of Wakf and Registration Acts.

"We shall be setting up a temporary structure and hope the chairman, who spoke to police and GHMC to keep restraint in case of prayers are organised at the site, will visit on Saturday and lay foundation stone for the reconstruction of mosque," he said.