Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, May 24: All Indian Imams council state president Maulana Ateeque Ur Rehman Ashrafi has urged the state government to provide Covid relief compensation of lock down period to Imams of Masjids also as given to Hindu temple priests.

In a press release, Maulanba Asharafi said, “Karnataka government has announced Covid lockdown compensation to priests and staff of Hindu temples who are in financial difficulty as the temples are closed for public. It is reported that an amount of Rs 33.45 crore advance Tasdeeq in addition to Rs 4.50 crore yearly compensation. The government has also ordered to provide food kits to the priests of Hindu temples. But no compensation is announced for Imams and Muazzins of mosques or priests and staff of churches. This shows the religious intolerance of the state government.

“State government should provide compensation under humanity grounds and not religion-based politics. In addition to treating all the religious personnel equally, the government should ensure that equal justice is provided to all. The state government should immediately declare compensation to the staff and priests of Mosques and churches, who are distraught due to lock down and help them financially. Wakf board also should urge the government to release Covid relief to the Imams and staff of Mosques,” he said in the statement.