HYDERABAD, May 8: Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism Sassui Palijo said on Thursday that her ministry would try to get back control of Hindu Gymkhana, Karachi, from the National Academy for Performing Arts.

“I am facing criticism from the presidency over my stance (on the gymkhana) but I will not give up and they will have to hand it over to us,” she said at a news conference at the Circuit House.

“It’s an injustice with Hindu community people who are being deprived of their right to celebrate their religious rituals in the gymkhana,” she regretted.

She deplored occupation of Jinnah Courts in Karachi by Rangers and said the provincial cabinet had already discussed the issue to get vacated such buildings, particularly those of educational institutions, which were in the possession of rangers.

Sassui said that she would move a bill in the coming Sindh Assembly session for much-awaited Gorakh Hill in order to expedite work on the project and run it in a transparent manner.

The federal government had committed to contribute 50 per cent to the total cost of the project but it had not released even a single penny to date, she said, expressing hope the new federal government would spend more than the committed funds.

She said that the prime minister had been briefed in this regard and out of 52 kilometre of 54km road leading to the resort had been built despite the fact that substandard material had been used in it.

She hinted at holding an international conference on the project and disclosed that the chief minister was likely to visit the resort. The issues relating to Wadpa for electricity and water supply probably from Nai Gaj were being reviewed seriously to kickstart the project’s work, she said.

Sassui said that the governing body of the Sindhi Language Authority (SLA) would be dissolved during next week. Women would also be given representation on the authority and a summary to this effect had been moved, she said.She said that the Shamsul Ulema Dadpota Library would be upgraded, Benazir Bhutto Gallery would be added to the library and it would be made treasure trove of information for foreign scholarships and international degrees.

She was critical of the usage of ‘interior Sindh’ term, saying it was tantamount to harming the province’s interests. Instead, the urban and rural Sindh reference could be accepted, she added.

She hinted at making major reshuffling in Bhit Shah Council as well and said people who were in no mood to work would be sent packing. An encyclopaedia of international standard on Sindh was being prepared, she informed.

She said that the artists or their heirs had been and would be financially assisted by the department and in this connection referred to comedian Lehri, TV artiste Anwar Solangi and folk singer Misri Faqir.

Sassui said that Mumtaz Mirza auditorium would be uplifted and its Marvi lawn would now be used as children’s park instead of letting it for commercial uses. She vowed not to succumb to any pressure to let commercialism in the park continue.

She agreed with a questioner that Sindh like the Punjab would also endeavour to seek administrative control over archaeological sites. “Should we be kept waiting for a federal government functionary to take care of these sties while they have gone to dogs? We do have more attachment to our land,” she remarked.

She said that she learnt about bulldozing of a portion of historical seminary near Bulri Shah Karim and the matter had been brought to her notice by district administration.

The minister visited the Sindhi Language Authority and the Shamsul Ulema Daudpota Library and was briefed about the institutions’ affairs.