MIM Urges Chandrababu to Stop Demolition of Religious Structures in AP

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 led by Ahmed Pasha Quadri on Tuesday met AP Chief Secretary S.P. Tucker in Hyderabad and submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

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.

It drew attention to incidents of demolition of the centuries-old Abu Bakr Mosque at Ramavarappadu on Vijaywada-Eluru Ring Road in May and the partial demolition of other mosques, darghas 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 party demanded rebuilding of the demolished mosque and also sought action against the officers responsible for the demolition.