Government clueless about sorry state of Maulana Azad’s mausoleum

New Delhi – Union Minority Affairs Minister K. Rahman Khan Monday was clueless about the sorry state of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s mausoleum here even as the central government launched a national portal on his 125th birth anniversary.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the first education minister of independent India.

“It is a protected site and designated authorities are responsible for its upkeep. The ministry will look into its (poor upkeep),” Rahman Khan told IANS at a function here.

IANS visited the site and found the boundary walls of the mausoleum situated in the heart of the bustling Meena Bazar in Old Delhi defaced with posters and betel juice marks.

Open sewers and a dump yard nearby tell a tale of unbelievable civic and governmental neglect.

Inside the walls the dry fountains gather dust and filth.