MARGAO
After the High Court set a six-month time for the government to complete the kabrastan at Sonsodo last week, the Muslim community on Sunday felicitated the late Sayed Manzoor Kadri the petitioner in the Public Interest Litigation filed before the court, with Congress-turned-BJP MLA Digambar Kamat calling for united efforts to build Goa’s best and beautiful kabarastan for the Muslim community at Sonsodo.
Kamat, who had initiated the land acquisition for the kabrastan at Sonsodo during his stint as chief minister in 2011, was also honoured on the occasion.
Addressing the community members, the Margao MLA said there was no doubt that the Muslim community was in dire need of a burial ground and he had contributed to this with his initiative to acquire land admeasuring 30,000 square metres at Sonsodo. “The High Court order refers to the resolution moved by me in the Goa Legislative Assembly in 1999 for a decent burial ground for the Muslim community. We did attempt to set up the burial grounds at some locations, but the proposal could not fructify,” he said.
Kamat added: “But when I became the chief minister in 2007, I got the opportunity to pursue the proposal. After scouting for land, we zeroed in on the land at Sonsodo admeasuring 30,000 square metres. We did not stop there. After consulting the representatives of various Masjids, we decided to ink an agreement with the Jamia Masjid, Malbhat, wherein the land will be handed over to the religious body for maintenance for 30 years.”
Stating that the kabrastan work could not start on the acquired land despite his government appointing a contractor to execute the work, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said because of the initiative by the late Kadri the High Court has given a good order after studying the issue threadbare. “The High Court has set a six-month timeline, casting responsibility on the PWD, GSUDA and the Margao Municipal Council. The order is categorical that work on the project should be completed within six months,” he said.
Complimenting late Kadri and other Muslim leaders for their tireless efforts in realising the long-pending dream of a kabrastan in Margao, Kamat said: “Now, we have to all work together to ensure the burial grounds become a reality within the timeline. In the past, I was instrumental in building a beautiful cemetery for the catholic community at Rawanfond. Let us now work together to build Goa’s best and most beautiful kabrastan for the Muslim community. I can only say truth has finally prevailed and the High Court has done justice in the matter.”
