One temple, church, 2 mosques to be built in new Secretariat building

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao said that a temple and two mosques, which were damaged while demolishing the Old Secretariat building, would be reconstructed in the new Secretariat. Apart from these, a church will also be constructed on the premises, he said.

He was speaking at a meeting with the religious heads of the Muslim community at Pragathi Bhavan here on Saturday. The religious structures would be built with government funds. Each of the mosques would be built in 750 square feet (total 1500 sq feet), including one Imam quarters. In the new Secretariat, the new mosques would be constructed at the same location where they were in the old building. The new mosques after the construction would be handed over to the State Wakf Board.

A temple will also be constructed in 1,500 sq ft and it would be handed over to the endowments department.

Since there is demand from the Christian community, the government will construct a church too.

KCR said that foundation stones for all the religious structures would be laid on the same day after the end of the ensuing legislative session.

He said the decision to have structures of three religions was taken to reflect the fact that Telangana practises religious tolerance. “It is a symbol of Ganga Jamuna Tehjeeb.”

The CM also said the construction of Anees-ul-Gurbah, the institution which gives shelter to the orphaned Muslim children and provides them education, will be expedited. Already 80 per cent of the construction works of this structure is complete and it requires an additional Rs 18 crore which will be released soon, he said,

The government has decided to set up an Islamic Centre in Hyderabad with international standards for which land has also been allocated. However, the construction works got delayed due to the pandemic, he said, adding that works would be put on track soon.

KCR also said that the collectors of Ranga Reddy and Medchal have been asked to identify land for burial grounds of the Muslim community. At several places in Hyderabad city, 150-200 burial grounds will be arranged.

Further, the CM said that Urdu will be recognised as the second official language in Telangana. Programmes will be organised for the protection of Urdu language, he said and added that programmes for the preservation of Urdu will be taken up by the Official Language Commission and a vice president connected with the Urdu language will be appointed in the Commission.

Home minister Mohammed Ali, MP Asaduddin Owaisi, MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, AIMPLB member Moulana Mufti Khaleel Ahmed and others were present.