Renovation or land grab? Row brews over Ashoorkhana

A controversy is brewing over the ‘renovation’ of Ashoorkhana-eBalaHishar, located near Golconda Fort, with a Shia community group alleging that the property is being grabbed by ‘vested elements’.

A few weeks ago the Nizam Awqaf Committee, which manages the properties belonging to the Asaf Jahi rulers, took up renovation of the premises. On coming to know of it, a few members of the community, under the leadership of Haneef Ali, Telangana State BJP Minority president, lodged a complaint with Golconda police and Telangana State Wakf Board against the Awqaf Committee.

They charged that the committee is planning to lease the lands belonging to the Ashoorkhana to private persons to set up shops. The total extent of the land is around 2,500 square yards.

Haneef requested the police to stop the construction at the Ashoorkhana. He argued that the premises belonged to the Qutb Shahi era and the Asaf Jahi rulers took it over after the end of Qutb Shahi rule. “A few local businessmen, with the help of Nizam Awqaf Committee and AIMIM leaders, are trying to grab the property,” Haneef alleged.

Former AIMIM MLC Syed Altaf Hyder Razvi said, however, “I asked the Telangana State Wakf Board to look into the issue and stop any new construction. I also spoke to the Nizam Awqaf Board.”

He said that a government school had been functioning in the premises until a year ago and had vacated following a High Court order after a longdrawn legal battle.

When contacted, Golconda inspector Syed Fayaz said police had received a complaint alleging illegal construction and encroachment, which they were inquiring into.

“We have been told by the Nizam Awqaf Committee that they are only taking up renovation works for the benefit of visitors. For the time being, they have stopped the work,” Faraz said.

A member of the Nizam Awqaf Committee said that they were taking up renovation works and were only building toilets. “A few people are trying to rake up unnecessary issues. There is no attempt to encroach or grab land,” he said.

Shia and Sunni muslim protest against the alleged illegal construction at the 500year-old heritage site Ashoorkhana which is opposite the Golconda Fort under the authorities of Nizam umoor-e- Mazhabi, Mir Firasath Ali baqri senior journalist gave a...