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Hyderabad, May 27 (PMI) A delegation led by Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson of the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), met Azmath Ullah Hussaini, Chairman of the Telangana State Wakf Board, and submitted a detailed memorandum highlighting several long-pending issues concerning Bargah-e-Moula Ali, its employees, annual Moharrum grants, and security arrangements at the historic shrine.
During the meeting, the delegation drew the attention of the Wakf Board Chairman to the hardships being faced by eleven employees serving at Bargah-e-Moula Ali. Mr. Khan stated that during 2017-18, the then Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Telangana Wakf Board had promised 100 square yard residential plots on a lease basis to each of the eleven employees for the construction of houses. The assurance was reportedly given in the presence of late Zaheer Ahmed Khan, the then Mutawalli of Bargah-e-Moula Ali.
However, despite the passage of several years, neither the land has been identified nor the promised plots allotted to the employees. Mr. Khan pointed out that since 2018, an amount of Rs. 500 has been deducted every month from the salaries of the employees towards the proposed allotment, even though no progress has been made in implementing the scheme. He requested the Chairman to intervene personally and ensure justice for the employees who have been waiting for years.
After hearing the matter in detail, Mr. Hussaini clarified that the previous Wakf Board had indeed passed a formal resolution regarding allotment of plots to the employees. However, the resolution specified that the process should be carried out jointly with the Mutawalli of Bargah-e-Moula Ali. Following the demise of late Zaheer Ahmed Khan, disputes within the Mutawalli family delayed the appointment of a full-fledged Mutawalli, which in turn prevented the implementation of the resolution.
The Chairman assured the delegation that the present Wakf Board would obtain a legal opinion on the matter and make sincere efforts to ensure that the deserving employees receive the lease plots after Eid-ul-Adha.
The delegation also raised serious concerns regarding the extremely low salaries being paid to the shrine employees. Mr. Khan informed the Chairman that many among the eleven employees belong to families that have been serving Bargah-e-Moula Ali for generations, continuing the services rendered earlier by their fathers and grandfathers.
Despite their long years of dedicated service, each employee is presently receiving only Rs. 1800 per month as salary. Mr. Khan remarked that in present economic conditions, even daily wage labourers earn between Rs. 1000 and Rs. 1500 per day, making it nearly impossible for these employees to support their families with such meagre wages.
He urged the Wakf Board Chairman to ensure that these employees are paid salaries on par with the remuneration being provided by the Wakf Board to Imams and Mouzans serving in mosques and religious institutions across Telangana.
Responding positively to the demand, Mr. Hussaini stated that the present Wakf Board is seriously considering the enhancement of salaries of Bargah employees. Though he did not commit to any specific figure, he assured the delegation that efforts would be made to convince the Board to increase the salaries to the maximum extent possible.
Another important issue discussed during the meeting was the annual Moharrum grant for Bargah-e-Moula Ali. Mr. Khan pointed out that despite the shrine being one of the most important and historic religious places visited by thousands of devotees and Zayareens from India and abroad, it had remained deprived of Moharrum funds from the Telangana Wakf Board for many years.
He recalled that during Moharrum-2025, after he personally took up the issue with the Wakf Board Chairman, Bargah-e-Moula Ali received Moharrum funds for the first time in its history. Mr. Khan requested that the financial assistance should not only continue this year but also be enhanced, considering the increasing expenses during Moharrum observances.
The Wakf Board Chairman assured the delegation that Moharrum funds would once again be sanctioned to Bargah-e-Moula Ali and efforts would be made to increase the allocation this year.
The delegation also expressed serious concern over the sanctity and security of Bargah-e-Moula Ali. Mr. Khan informed the Chairman that several videos have recently surfaced on social media showing anti-social elements climbing the rocks surrounding the shrine area, consuming alcohol, and engaging in objectionable activities, thereby hurting the religious sentiments of devotees.
He mentioned that social activist Hyder Hashmi had also uploaded several such videos on social media and convened a meeting involving Shia religious scholars, social activists, and officials of the Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate to discuss the issue and explore measures for protecting the sanctity of the shrine.
Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson of the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) requested the Wakf Board Chairman to immediately write to B. Sumathi, Commissioner of Police, Malkajgiri Commissionerate, seeking the establishment of a permanent police outpost at Bargah-e-Moula Ali. He also demanded the installation of CCTV cameras across the shrine premises to monitor anti-social activities and maintain law and order in the area.
Responding to the concerns, Mr. Hussaini assured the delegation that the Telangana Wakf Board would immediately take up the matter with the police authorities and seek the establishment of a permanent police outpost along with the installation of CCTV surveillance cameras at Bargah-e-Moula Ali to ensure safety, security, and preservation of the sanctity of the historic shrine.
Those present during the meeting included Syed Imdad Hussain (MBT), Shakeel Cricketer (MBT), Mir Ashraf Ali Razvi, Superintendent of Bargah-e-Moula Ali, along with employees Shoukat Ali Syed, Meer Amjad Ali, Hyder Ali, Hussain Ali, Hassan Ali, Zaker Hussain, and Mir Shoukat Ali. (pressmediaofindia.com)
