Mon Mar 31 14:36:31 UTC 2025: ## Hyderabad Citizens Launch Campaign to Protect Qutb Shahi Tombs

**Hyderabad, March 31, 2025** – A group of concerned citizens has initiated a signature campaign to protect the Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex in Hyderabad amidst a controversy surrounding its ongoing restoration. The campaign aims to raise public awareness and garner support for the preservation of the city’s cultural heritage.

The group, comprising former Heritage Conservation Committee member Sajjad Shahid, journalist Ayoob Ali Khan, and academic Oudesh Rani Bawa, plans to submit a petition to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. Their action follows allegations of damage to the tombs, prompting a Telangana High Court notice to the government and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), responsible for the restoration since 2013.

The AKTC’s work, which has restored over 80 structures using traditional methods, has received international recognition, including the 2022 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The group emphasizes that the project has undergone rigorous peer reviews and official inspections. They are urging the government to investigate the credibility of the allegations made in a letter to the High Court.

Mr. Shahid highlighted the need for sustained public engagement in heritage conservation, stating that public interest often wanes after initial attention. The petition is available for signing at LaMakaan in Banjara Hills. The citizens’ campaign underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the delicate balance between preserving historical sites and the methods employed in their restoration.

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