Activists take up cudgels for Mecca Masjid

Activists take up cudgels for Mecca Masjid
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Highlights

Raising serious concerns over the maintenance, upkeep and safety of the structure of Mecca Masjid, heritage activists along with political party leaders appealed Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao to take the issue seriously. They alleged that State government had been making hollow promises about the safety of the structure and stated that this 17th century structure was in danger.

Heritage and social activists and political leaders urge Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to take repair works to the monument. They also demand setting up of a corpus fund of Rs 100 crore for the mosque

Hyderabad: Raising serious concerns over the maintenance, upkeep and safety of the structure of Mecca Masjid, heritage activists along with political party leaders appealed Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao to take the issue seriously. They alleged that State government had been making hollow promises about the safety of the structure and stated that this 17th century structure was in danger.

Former MP and senior CPI leader Aziz Pasha said this was not for the first time that concerns were expressed about the Mecca Masjid. He alleges that the Minority Welfare Department has not been functioning as it should be.

Heritage activist Pandu Rangareddy has said that there is need to save this structure from being damaged by weather
conditions. He said, ``Government must form a corpus fund of Rs 100 crore for the mosque and release Rs 50 crore for taking up repair works on the structure.”

He asked when CM was generous enough to release funds for other religious structures, what was hindering him to focus on Mecca Masjid.

Noted heritage activist Osman Alhajri displayed the pictures of Mecca Masjid’s seeping roof, bush being sprouting on the roof top and damaged parts of the roof. He said this structure needed an immediate attention the State government and archaeological department.

Chiranjeevi Kolluri, a historian and noted archaeologist, says that saving Mecca Masjid is not just the matter of heritage but it relates to culture and history. He said all the six Nizams of Asaf Jahi dynasty were laid to rest in the mosque premises. He called upon every citizen, irrespective of the religion and caste, must come forward to raise their voice for saving Mecca Masjid.

Jamat e Islami Hind head of TS and Odisha Hamid Mohammed Khan has said that Mecca Masjid is one of the symbols of Hyderabad and its culture and it should be protected in all respects.

Former Corporator Patthar Gatti Mohammed Ghouse said that there was no enhancement in allocations of funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the structure. He said that there has been severe funds crunch and maintenance was thrown to the winds. He suggested that a committee must be formed to look after the structure’s safety and maintenance.

Sufi Academy general secretary Syed Tariq Quadri termed the announcements and statements by the State government as hollow promises and said that except the visits of Deputy CM, nothing concrete was done for the Mecca Masjid. He questioned the government over delay in taking up repair works at the mosque. Representatives of different social organisations vowed to agitate to save the mosque if government fails to respond in time.

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