Team Herald
VASCO: Vasco MLA Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar on Monday said that the government will find an amicable solution to the Muslim kabrastan issue at Maimollem, Vasco, which was partly damaged by the South Western Railway (SWR), while undertaking double tracking work.
Following fears expressed by the Muslim community, Salkar along with Muslim community members, SWR officials and police held a joint inspection at the Kabrastan.
After the inspection, Salkar said that measures will be taken to prevent flooding during monsoon at Maimollem. He said that SWR authorities have agreed to desilt the area to ensure proper outflow of water.
Salkar also told the SWR authorities to stop the work after Muslim community complained that some graves had been damaged.
The MLA said that in an attempt to resolve the issue amicably, Muslim leaders and SWR authorities will be brought on one platform and that the railway authorities would be asked to do a proper demarcation of the area and to see how much the railways can adjust to save the Muslim kabrastan. He said that both sides have agreed for amicable solution and appealed to all not to politicise the issue.
One of the Muslims leader Ayaz Shaikh said that Masjid heads and committees and SWR officials will meet the Vasco MLA again with their respective plans and proposals to resolve the issue.
It is learnt that the SWR while undertaking the work of laying double tracks and constructing retaining wall dumped debris, which burried a few graves. The railway authorities also demarcated some area within the kabrastan, creating a sort of fear among the community, Shaikh said.
Shaikh said Kabrastan is situated at Maimollem for more than 150 years and appealed to all not to politicise the issue and to find amicable solution. He feared that since Holy month of Ramadan is on, some people may try to blow up the issue.
Stating that they were not against development, Shaikh appealed to railway authorities to protect kabrastan and also a Hindu temple situated nearby and avoid hurting religious sentiments.
