Ashoorkhanas losing govt patronage: Shias

Dabeerpura: With hardly a week left for the beginning of Moharram (Islamic month), the coordination meeting of different departments over preparedness is yet to be organised. Alleging apathy, Shia community lamented that the centuries old tradition was slowly losing government patronage, particularly after formation of Telangana state.

The Member of Shia community and BJP spokesperson, Mir Firasat Ali Baqri held that besides the failure to conduct meeting, no funds were released for maintenance and renovation and other works for thousands of Ashoorkhanas across State.

While blaming the ruling TRS government for the present scenario, he threw emphasis on provision of at least Rs 1 lakh for each of the Ashoorkhanas, as the caretakers were unable to raise funds. "This holiest month will begin from August 30 (depending on the moon sighting) and hardly a week remains, and no coordination meeting is held yet" he noted.

Since departments, including GHMC, R&B, HMWSSB, TSSPDCL, Zoo authorities (for elephant), fire and health has a major role to play during the 10-day mourning and Bibi Ka Alam procession, he demanded that the government instruct departments to arrange meeting immediately.

"There are more than 2,000 Ashoorkhanas in city and none of them have received any funds, even the oldest and the main Ashoorkhana Bibi-ka-Alawa at Dabeerpura from where a mourning procession will be taken out, is yet to get any funds", said Firasat Ali.

While others have pointed out that these Ashoorkhana traditionally has caretakers not only from Shia community but also from Sunni and there were Hindu caretakers and mostly being run and maintained through public contributions.

Advocate, Syed Ali Jaffery of Shia Companions Organisation on August 16 represented the matter to the chairman and also CEO of TS Wakf Board and Board members seeking sanction of grand-in-aid for the Holy month of Moharram (for maintenance, renovation and minor repairs) of Wakf Notified Ashoorkhana's of the State.

"The caretakers and management committees of Ashoorkhanas in City and districts are unable to bear the maintenance expenses incurred during the holy month in their respective Wakf Institutions due to paucity of funds and some of them do not have any such source of funds," he noted.