Allah Ditta says sorry for grave threat (From Worcester News)
Get involved! Send your photos, video, news & views by texting WN NEWS to 80360 or e-mail us
Allah Ditta says sorry for grave threat in Worcester Muslim cemetery
9:00am Saturday 1st September 2012 in News By Tom Edwards
SON: Ruhal Hussein at his father’s grave, which is at the centre of the dispute
COUNCILLOR Allah Ditta has apologised for threatening to dig up a man’s body in a graveyard row at Worcester’s Muslim cemetery – but insists he will not be resigning.
In a statement to your Worcester News , the former mayor says Monuhor Ali’s family still owe £400 over grave preparation, despite the relatives saying he has not done any work on the site.
Coun Ditta said: “In this heated disagreement, I now accept I used inappropriate language, for which I have readily apologised and would like to do so again.
“I never intended to cause distress or anguish to the family of the deceased, but was trying to make the point that an unpaid bill still needed to be paid.”
His stance still directly contradicts Mr Ali’s family, who say since his death in June at the age of 74, the funeral arrangements and graveyard preparation were done by themselves.
As your Worcester News first revealed on Thursday, Coun Ditta was secretly recorded threatening to “get the digger” unless the family paid up.
He was acting in his role as chairman of a voluntary management committee looking after the site, which is leased by the city council to Worcester Muslim Welfare Association.
Coun Ditta said: “I would like to once again publicly apologise unreservedly for any hurt and distress caused by this incident and assure my community that I will continue to help families at a time of need, whenever requested.”
In the statement he says the £400 cost related to sorting out the funeral arrangements, and for bricks which were laid inside the grave.
The family still deny this, with one of Mr Ali’s son’s, Ruhal Hussain, saying: “We did the work ourselves and sorted our own funeral arrangements, not Mr Ditta.”
Harris Saleem, president of the association, confirmed that bricks were made available at the cemetery for grieving families to use to line relatives’ graves.
He also said it was common for the work to be done by some of the volunteers, with the family often asked for payment in cash afterwards.
- Read Mr Ditta’s statement in full here.
- Listen to the recording below. Warning: Bad language .
Comments(21)
Hwicce
says...
10:11am Sat 1 Sep 12
If the bill is just for things such as bricks then why don't they pass on the bill for "100 bricks from DIY store - £137.50". That way everyone knows what it is for and there is no scope for "error or misunderstanding"
davidsmallwood
says...
10:26am Sat 1 Sep 12
So let's spark that change....
First we need the love...
Dave
jovialcommonsense
says...
10:31am Sat 1 Sep 12
Did the original invoice show a proper breakdown of costs?
ellnino9
says...
11:06am Sat 1 Sep 12
rubalish
says...
11:25am Sat 1 Sep 12
May he rest in peace !
Voice of the Voyager
says...
11:26am Sat 1 Sep 12
As Coun Ditta is in public office, he does not relinquish it when he feels it restricts him. Misconduct in such a position is accountable 24/7 and he knows it.
However, the big questions do not go away - why no VAT on the invoice, where are the audited accounts of this 'muslim funeral services'; who are the unnamed trustees for the land to be transferred to. Is HMRC taking an interest in this because they should be. The council also, it is their land that is leased. How often is that lease renegotiated? Do they obtain maximum rent,or is there a wink wink peppercorn agreement not to cause trouble?
Just present all of the above to the editorial desk for publication and open scrutiny and people will close the case. If they don't, then expect to be harrassed until you do.
The News needs to keep on top of this, even it it means fallings out with various sections of the comunity and councillors - after all, they write on behalf of the silent majority.
brooksider
says...
12:31pm Sat 1 Sep 12
What planet is this bloke on?
Its not only Allah Ditta's judgement at question now.
EconoXL
says...
1:51pm Sat 1 Sep 12
Maggie Would
says...
4:50pm Sat 1 Sep 12
brooksider wrote:The Conservatives will do all they can to keep Mr Ditta in office. His seat is a marginal one and if there is a by-election it is quite likely that Labour will win it, giving the Labour Party in Worcester overall control.
According to Simon Geraghty it is ok for a Conservative Councillor to threaten 'to dig up a dead man’s body' as long as he is 'acting in a personal capacity and not as a politician'
What planet is this bloke on?
Its not only Allah Ditta's judgement at question now.
There's a lot more at stake here than people realise (although I'm sure you do, Brooksider)
brooksider
says...
6:05pm Sat 1 Sep 12
Maggie Would wrote:At an election it is up to the voters to decide, but the longer Geraghty backs Ditta, the less likely a Conservative victory.
brooksider wrote:The Conservatives will do all they can to keep Mr Ditta in office. His seat is a marginal one and if there is a by-election it is quite likely that Labour will win it, giving the Labour Party in Worcester overall control.
According to Simon Geraghty it is ok for a Conservative Councillor to threaten 'to dig up a dead man’s body' as long as he is 'acting in a personal capacity and not as a politician'
What planet is this bloke on?
Its not only Allah Ditta's judgement at question now.
There's a lot more at stake here than people realise (although I'm sure you do, Brooksider)
Maybe Liz Smith and Ken carpenter should grow some cojones and tell their political masters they no longer wish to be associated with such a repugnant political partner.
Stuart 1
says...
7:47pm Sat 1 Sep 12
We all do things at some stage we wish we hadn't and say things we didn't mean.We don't know what triggered this outburst. Lets us not forget the excellent service that Councillor Ditta has given to this city and this community. Regardless of race, creed, colour or political persuasion he along with the other Councillors have freely given of their time in service to the community. Councillor Allah Ditta as Mayor of this City served it with great dignity - lets us not condemn him for something that he must surely deeply regret. As is sometimes said "he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone". Now please let us move on.
Sleepless in Droitwich
says...
9:49pm Sat 1 Sep 12
Maggie Would
says...
11:34pm Sat 1 Sep 12
Sleepless in Droitwich wrote:LOL.
Taxi for Ditta !!!!!!!
sirjustice
says...
12:27am Sun 2 Sep 12
i would like these to point out where in teh recording Ditta says hell dig up the body?
since that will be hard for them to prove instead ill prove to teh readers of this biased newpaper what actually happens and the recording is teh proof...
listen to recording from 1 min 19 secs: the bengali chap says that ditta hasnt done any slab work or brick work..... in reply to that Ditta says ill gig it up ???????
to me thats clear that Ditta is saying that hell dig up the top half of the grave to prove that the said work is done,
no where in that audio does Ditta say that he will dig up a body.
ive never supported Ditta but that might change now with these dirty tactics by Labour and WEN
sirjustice
says...
12:39am Sun 2 Sep 12
maryjane2012
says...
9:41am Sun 2 Sep 12
Bearing in mind that there appears to be a lot more “going on” here, I think we should all “shut up” now and let things cool down. I have no idea what this debacle is really about as I don’t know the protagonists personally. However, I do think the witch hunt effect being carried out now is totally unfair.
Many of us make mistakes (myself included) and are able to put them down to experience because we are not under public scrutiny. I’m not sure why WN is so apparently “hell bent” on attacking Mr Ditta. As Sir Justice says, listen to the recording.
Personally I don’t know Mr Ditta or the others involved and have no allegiance to Mr Ditta’s political party. I just feel that this has all evolved into a “kangaroo court” and we would be better served by a more level-headed enquiry into this situation. It’s highly unlikely that ALL the faults are on one side only!
sarah and her chickens
says...
10:23am Sun 2 Sep 12
If their accounts are not in order then they shaould be investigated by the tax man.
Jeremy Pitt
says...
2:36pm Sun 2 Sep 12
Theworldtoday
says...
5:33pm Sun 2 Sep 12
sirjustice wrote:i could not agree with u more worcester news head line of ditta to dig up grave as put a big question mark on what worcester news reports i have listen to this recording a few time as not once have i heard 'i will dig your father up' the word used were i will dig it up dig it out and i'll get the digger ??? no where in that does it say anything about a body being dug up. the family have burried their father and belive that is it no extra cost is need to be paid ?? if they have had work done to the grave y should the family not pay it ?? the cost then goes up for everyone else and then it becomes a trust issuse where people have to pay before any work is carried out at a time when anyones head is not in the right place. The man has said sorry for his mistake and i for one think it takes a real man to addmitt him was wrong for the way he dealt with things on that day but we have all have had days where we have bitten someones head off for reasons nothing to do with them. I belive there is more to this story as meets i also do not believe that we have got the full recording only what THOSE want us to hear why should he resign he has done so much for this city yes he had his share in the papers for thing that have negivative but only bad news is news and he may be a Councillors but he is only HUMAN and no can hand on their heart say they have never made a mistake and regretted their actions can they???
i would like to say that Tom Edwards along with the evening news have caused a drama to destablise the muslim community,
i would like these to point out where in teh recording Ditta says hell dig up the body?
since that will be hard for them to prove instead ill prove to teh readers of this biased newpaper what actually happens and the recording is teh proof...
listen to recording from 1 min 19 secs: the bengali chap says that ditta hasnt done any slab work or brick work..... in reply to that Ditta says ill gig it up ???????
to me thats clear that Ditta is saying that hell dig up the top half of the grave to prove that the said work is done,
no where in that audio does Ditta say that he will dig up a body.
ive never supported Ditta but that might change now with these dirty tactics by Labour and WEN
Newspaper reader1982
says...
9:51am Mon 3 Sep 12
It's good he's apologised, because when he was on the bbc last week he seemed to show no real remorse. Time to move on, if you don't like him you aven't gotta vote for him, have you? Good reporting from the evening news all round I'd say.
davidcollier1 says...
10:07am Sat 1 Sep 12
shame on you WN