Construction of graveyard becomes litmus test for MC

MANDI AHMEDGARH: The purchase of land for the expansion and construction of a graveyard at Dehliz road has emerged as a litmus test for the authorities at the local civic body as some members of the Muslim community have threatened to launch an agitation if they failed to implement the project that was announced by then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal two years ago

Updated At : 07:30 AM Sep 18, 2018 IST

Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, Sept 17

The purchase of land for the expansion and construction of a graveyard at Dehliz road has emerged as a litmus test for the authorities at the local civic body as some members of the Muslim community have threatened to launch an agitation if they failed to implement the project that was announced by then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal two years ago.

While office-bearers of various Muslim outfits led by SAD leaders Aman Afridi Dr Nazir Mohammad and Yaseen Ladoo have threatened to launch the agitation on November 2, activists led by Municipal Council president Suraaj Mohammad and Kabristan Management Committee president Tufail Mohammad have claimed that the process for the purchase of piece of land measuring 10 bigha 8 biswas would be started immediately after the ensuing civic body elections.

The change in regime in the state government and the local Municipal Council compounded the issue and residents of Muslim localities lost hope of seeing this project completed. Having failed to get their demand implemented, the Muslim leaders owing allegiance to SAD announced to sit on a dharna at Dehliz road if needful is not done by the end of October.

Former SAD MLA Iqbal Singh Jhoonda said the grant had been announced keeping in view the pathetic condition of the exiting graveyard which was being dug repeatedly for accommodating more bodies for burial.

“Former CM Parkash Singh Badal was kind enough to sanction the grant and I had personally taken up the matter with the authorities in the district administration for the release of first installment,” said Jhoondan, maintaining that the Municipal Council authorities should initiate the process for the purchase of land without any delay.

Municipal Council president Suraaj Mohammad said Congress legislator Surjit Dhiman had already discussed the issue with Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori and urged him to approve the purchase of the required land for the purpose. “As process cannot be executed at present due to the ongoing code of conduct, the funds will be released immediately after the ensuing civic body elections are over,” said Suraaj Mohammad.

Fact file

Former CM Parkash Singh Badal had announced a grant of Rs 65 lakh from the funds of the Punjab Roads and Bridges Development Board during a sangat darshan programme at the local market two years ago. Though the first installment of Rs 16.10 lakh was remitted to the local civic body and the process for the purchase of land for the expansion and construction of a graveyard had been started then, the district administration raised objections on the process on technical grounds. The change in regime in the state government and the local Municipal Council compounded the issue and residents of Muslim localities lost hope of seeing this project completed.