Saving Janbaz Wali shrine: Locals launch signature campaign as protest against Waqf board

Rising Kashmir: Baramulla: Tuesday, 26 August 2014.

Locals who are demanding that J&K Muslim Waqf Board should entirely reconstruct the 600-year old revered Sufi shrine of Syed Mohammed Janbaz Wali, at Khanpora Baramulla Monday have started a signature campaign to press for their demands.

Local residents say more than 1000 people have signed the petition so far.

“Already 1000 people have signed to register their protest against the Waqf board management who are not taking concrete steps to protect this famous shrine,” caretaker of the shrine, Khursheed Ahmad Shah told Rising Kashmir. “The campaign is going on in full swing,” he said.

Shah said they have a target of one lakh signatures. “Once we cross the mark of one lakh signatures, we would send a signature petition to President of India and Chief Minister so that steps could be taken to restore the shrine that could crumble any time.”

Shah said the Board has not even responded to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by the locals to know the amount of money the board has spent on the shrine and collected from devotees. “One month has already passed and Waqf board officials are yet to provide us the details of how much money has been spent and how much has been taken as offerings from this shrine,” he said.

Two days ago, this newspaper reported how Waqf Board has failed to provide proper attention to a 600-year-old shrine. Many politicians and religions heads reacted strongly, against the board’s failure for not providing enough attention to the shrine.

According to the locals, the latest initiative is a part of the efforts to expose the board’s non-seriousness. “Waqf board has failed to save the shrines and mosques of the Valley,” Ghulam Nabi, a local said. “We want the shrine should be restored on the pattern of Charar-e-Sharief, Dastageer Sahib and Baba Reshi shrines. It is very sad that Waqf is not taking any interest in this shrine,’’ he said. The residents have even threatened to block Srinagar–Muzuffarabad highway if their demands are not met. “We are using all peaceful means to compel the government to restore the shrine, in case government ignores; we could block the highway,’’ said Haroon Ahmad, a local.