PANAJI: Members of the Muslim community along with Azad Jamatul Muslimeen Welfare Trust has opposed the proposal for constructing a garden on the periphery of the kabrastan area in St Inez.
“The CCP which is managing the kabrastan has proposed to build a garden along the border of the kabrastan. We oppose this proposal,” said Sayeed Manzoor Kadri, president of Jamatul Muslimeen Welfare Trust at a press conference on Wednesday
This kabrastan is in existence since the 1800s in Panaji. Out of the 3,200 square meters of land of the kabrastan, 830 square meters of land is proposed to be used for the garden, informed Kadri.
As there is already scarcity of land to bury the Muslim dead, the garden will further create a problem, said Kadri.
CCP has already put a restriction that only Muslims from Panaji, Taleigao and St Cruz area can be buried in this kabrastan, he added. Kadri also threatened to agitate if the demand is not met.
President of the Muslim Democratic Society of Goa alleged that the garden is being created as a legal buffer between the kabrastan and a new residential premises to help builders.
Meanwhile, Kadri reiterated his demand that all over Goa common cremation, burial grounds for Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and other communities should be set up.
He said, the matter has been raised before the Goa Human Rights Commission and the reply of the Chief Secretary of Goa is awaited for a long time.
