MT News Service
Jammu, December 16:
Prominent Shia cleric and scholar of high repute, Jenab Sayed Kalbe Jawed Naqvi was in the town at the invitation of people.
Earlier he had visited Kashmir to understand the present state of affairs of the Shia community all over the valley. His present visit was purely in the nature of to know the socio-economic and religious affairs and also to know what difficulties are being experienced by the people in general and Shia community in particular.
He met several delegations in Jammu and after going into the problems sought appointment with Honorable Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. It was a matter of pleasure that on December 15, a delegation led by Jenab Sayed Kalbe Jawed Naqvi met Lt. Governor at Raj Bhawan. He was accompanied by Sohail Kazmi, a journalist and figurehead of the Shia community from Jammu and Poonch.
Those who were present in the press conference include Jenab Aslam Qureshi retd.IAS, Jenab Shameel Shamisi, jenab Sohail Kazmi, Jenab Tahir Ali Shah
The issue which Maulana brought before the LG was purely religious and principal issues discussed include.
1. Restrictions on Shia procession in Kashmir particularly from Shia locality of Srinagar’s, Abi Guzar to Zadibal on 10th of Muharram be lifted.
2. There was traditionally a procession taken out from Guru Bazaar area of old Srinagar city to Kathi Darwaza and Hasanabad but for the last 20-years it has not been allowed.
3. The LG heard the Maulana and assured that as soon as the spread of covid-19 is contained and the situation stabilizes, these restrictions would be removed and Shia people of Kashmir would see that a judicious treatment is afforded to them on the account.
4. Pertaining to the idea of the central government to set up a Shia Wakf Board in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The LG stated that the constitution of Shia is on the priority list of the central government. In this regard the Maulana requested that its vice-chairman and members must be picked up with proper scrutiny and those who are eminent in their spheres must be picked up so that the Waqf board of J&K must look to be a worthwhile exercise providing a great support system to the Shia community.
5. Another point raised by delegation was about 2 kanals and 5 marlas of land at Karbala Jammu which is under illegal occupation of Police need to be released at this level so that the aspect is sorted out to the best satisfaction of Shia’s of Jammu.
6. To conclude it was also brought to notice of LG that in Jammu city, there happens to be only two main graveyards for Muslims. There were only two main graveyards for Muslims which were setup more than 100 years ago during the rule of Dogra kings. With the influx of people from Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, there does not remain any space for burial. It is requested by the LG administration to sanction another piece of land for the burial ground within the city at suitable site.
7. Another point which was brought to notice of the LG was the highly concentrated areas of Shia Muslims in Kashmir have been presently rearranged electorally in fashion that their collective democratic and political strength has been set as having deprived the people from getting representation in legislative Assembly.
Maulana made a fervent appeal to LG that the delimitation commission should take this factor in view so that 6 to 7 constituencies out of 90 should be reserved out for Shia people.
