Hindu land for Ashoorkhanas

Sunni Muslims have been claiming that there is neither any definition nor declaration in the Wakf Act 1995 that all Ashoorkhanas belong to Shia Muslims.

The fact that in TS, a majority of dargahs belonging to Sunni Muslims have Ashoorkhanas, supports the claim of Sunni Muslims.

Mr Affan Quadri of Maher Organisation in the city said, “An Ashoorkhana is place where people gather to mourn the Martyrs of Karbala. Sunni Muslims also mourn the martyrs as much as Shias. In fact, it is a known fact that in many parts of the state, a large number of Hindus also observe Muharram.”

An official of the TS Wakf Board said that there are Ashoorkhanas that have been declared Wakf by Hindus. Some Ashoorkhanas in Ranigunj and Musheerabad of the city were given in ‘Wakf’ by Hindu families (donated so that the assets could be used for the Ashoorkhanas).

The official said that Sections 13 (2) and 13 (2-A) of the Wakf Act, 1995 stipulate constitution of separate Board for Shia with members of the community to look after affairs of their Wakf institutions.

A former member who represented Shias in the Wakf Board, on condition of anonymity, said “Instead seeking a separate Board, it would more appropriate for the Shias to ask the government to give more representation to the community on the Board.”

He said that the amended Act also envisages representation of two members from the Shia community wherever there are not enough number of Shia Wakf institutions Shia to constitute a separate Board for the community.