Stop demolition of religious structures: AIMIM to Andhra Pradesh CM

Hyderabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has urged Andhra Pradesh government to stop demolition of mosques and 'dargahs' for road widening works in the state.

A delegation of MIM legislators in Telangana led by Ahmed Pasha Quadri on Tuesday met Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary S.P. Tucker in Hyderabad and submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

It drew his attention to unfortunate incidents of demolition of the centuries-old Abu Bakr Mosque at Ramavaradu on Vijaywada-Eluru Ring Road in May and the partial demolition of other mosques, dargahs and graveyards in Vijayawada city and outskirts in the name of road widening works and construction of flyovers and bridges.

The memorandum said Krishna district authorities, with the active support of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and police, have been resorting to arbitrary demolition of mosques, dargahs and graveyards of the Muslim community in utter violation of laws for protection of religious places and ignoring the pleas of the Andhra Pradesh State Wakf Board authorities and protests by the local Muslims.

The AIMIM leaders recalled that they had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Secretary following demolition of Abu Bakr mosque. The cases booked the local Muslims for protesting but no action was taken to stop the demolition.

"On the other hand, the Krishna district revenue authorities are going ahead with their moves to demolish other mosques and graveyards for the so-called widening of the highway and construction of flyover with four tracks," the memorandum said.

The party demanded rebuilding of the demolished mosque and also sought action against the officers responsible for the demolition.