Hyderabad : Maulana Syed Shaji Mukhtar, the President of the Markazi Shia Ulema Council in Hyderabad, Telangana, expressed concern in a statement. He mentioned that both the Telangana State and the former United Andhra Pradesh, along with successive governments in India, have consistently neglected the Shia minority community.
According to Maulana Mukhtar, government attention towards the development of the Shia community has been lacking. Despite schemes intended for minorities, these initiatives do not effectively reach the Shia minority. Recent survey reports indicate a worsening situation for the Shia minority in Telangana, especially in the old city of Hyderabad, as highlighted in a noteworthy article by minorities researcher Shireen Mirza.
The statement demands the Congress government in Telangana to thoroughly assess the situation of the Shia minority. It calls for meaningful dialogues with Shia scholars and leaders and emphasizes the need for Shia representation across various sectors, particularly in education. The demand extends to increasing Shia representation in institutions, the minority sector, and the waqf board, as Shia waqf properties are reportedly facing challenges.
Maulana Mukhtar and the Shia Ulema Council express hope that the Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, will consider their demands and take prompt actions. They seek practical evidence that the Congress government is committed to supporting minorities, particularly the Shia community.
