Councillors call for Allah Ditta to quit

UNDER FIR: Allah Ditta UNDER FIR: Allah Ditta

ANGRY politicians have called for Allah Ditta to resign from his position as chairman of a council committee, saying they have “no confidence” in him.

Councillor Ditta, who threatened to dig up a dead man’s body during a row with a grieving family, was told by Worcester’s Labour group to step down as chairman of the city council’s Hopmarket sub-committee.

The committee manages the retail properties and apartments at the Hopmarket and is responsible for allocating more than £100,000 of income each year to needy causes.

During a tense meeting, at the Guildhall on Monday, Labour councillor Geoff Williams said “in view of the recent events” Coun Ditta could not command any confidence.

Mr Ditta was recently embroiled in a row with the family of a dead Muslim man, whose body he threatened to dig up if they did not pay him £400 for work he claims he did on the grave.

The family dispute the bill, claiming Mr Ditta has never carried out any work. The row erupted while Mr Ditta was acting as a volunteer for Worcester’s Muslim Cemetery committee, and not as a city councillor.

But Coun Williams said: “I’ve always believed, when you become a councillor, you should always demonstrate high standards of transparency and probity, whether you are acting on behalf of the council or not.

“Frankly, given the events of last week I’m surprised you are here chairing this – I’ve seen your apology, but there are clearly a large number of questions which have been raised for you to answer.

“I would urge you to take some time out to consider your position.”

Coun Ditta responded: “This is just mischief making by the Labour Party, I won’t accept that.”

However, a motion of no confidence by Coun Williams could not be voted on following advice from the council’s head of legal services, Doreen Porter, who pointed out that it wasn’t up to the committee to sack Coun Ditta as he had been appointed to his role by full council.

During the debate, Conservative councillor Jabba Riaz said he thought it was “very sad” but three of his fellow party colleagues, Gareth Jones, Stephen Hodgson and David Tibbutt , remained silent.

As your Worcester News first reported last week, Mr Ditta was secretly recorded threatening to “dig up” the body of Monuhor Ali at the city’s Muslim cemetery.

Mr Ali’s family are in the process of sending a complaint to the city council about his behaviour.

Comments(14)

More Tea Vicar says...
12:16pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Looks like the Tories are embarrassed.

It's interesting that Mr Riaz seems to have a slightly different view of this than the other, possibly white, Tories.

A lot was made, by local Tories and media, of Mr Ditta's ethnicity when he was elected. Maybe this is yet another area where the Tory leadership is out of touch with the membership.

I feel very strongly that there should be powers of re-call for councillors, so that in cases of wrong-doing or misconduct, voters get the chance to provoke a by-election.

Truepear says...
12:35pm Wed 5 Sep 12

As a supporter of the Tory Party i am embarrassed that i have voted for many years for this individual who is clearly not fit for office and of suspect character. I am now seriously considering other parties for the next election as i feel the Worcester Conservatives are letting this individual do what he pleases.

Having listened to the audio i am appalled. I feel for the family concerned.

Tim Woodward says...
12:38pm Wed 5 Sep 12

From what I can make of the article is Mr Riaz sad of Mr Ditta or Sad at the comments by Coun Williams?

Either way, I don't know what race has to do with it. The other Conservative Cllrs , well obviously not towing the party line and defending fellow cllr's , no safety in numbers anymore!

keeneye says...
1:26pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Well done Mr Ali's family for standing up to these bullying way's. I think you should be applauded. You have done absolutely the right thing, I hope the community supports you. Stories abound. Lets see if there is more to come out of this. As for Jones, Hodgson and Tibbutt remaining silent - who are you kidding - this event has brought shame on you three also.

More Tea Vicar says...
4:10pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Tim Woodward wrote:
From what I can make of the article is Mr Riaz sad of Mr Ditta or Sad at the comments by Coun Williams? Either way, I don't know what race has to do with it. The other Conservative Cllrs , well obviously not towing the party line and defending fellow cllr's , no safety in numbers anymore!
Race has a lot to do with Mr Ditta. He was welcomed because of it when he became mayor. And he seems to have dealt mainly with his own 'community'. There is a letter in today's Worcester News to that effect, too.

And though the wording is ambiguous, it does seem Mr Riaz has a different attitude to the non Asians, whether by coincidence or not.

Tim Woodward says...
4:46pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Yes i agree Mr Riaz is probably the most non political and easy to get on with from the Con-dem pact lot, probably because he has a personality and is educated here , can't be said for Ditta, i don't think he's replied to an email ive sent recently.

More Tea Vicar says...
6:50pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Truepear wrote:
As a supporter of the Tory Party i am embarrassed that i have voted for many years for this individual who is clearly not fit for office and of suspect character. I am now seriously considering other parties for the next election as i feel the Worcester Conservatives are letting this individual do what he pleases. Having listened to the audio i am appalled. I feel for the family concerned.
The local Conservative Party is a bit of an embarrassment, really, and must be a huge disappointment to the average Tory voter or member.

They were elected on a false prospectus, both locally and nationally. Leaving the national picture aside, did many people voting Tory expect a mess like this? Or the taxi thing? Or the South Worcestershire Wrecking Plan?

I suspect not.

The Tories need to change, or they will carry on losing seats. UKIP already lost them one, and I can see it happening again.

TDH123 says...
7:15am Thu 6 Sep 12

Indicative of a lack of integrity, a lack of empathy and a disregard for his own party. Mr Ditta should resign for at least the sake of his party. As for Tibbutt et al, does he not have a view? If he does not have a view at all or, perhaps, has an inability to express such a view, what on earth is doing as a local councillor?!

Voice of the Voyager says...
10:00am Thu 6 Sep 12

If the local Tories cannot see the way the tide is turning in the local community on this matter - well they seemingly cannot on national matters - then their vision is completely distorted by the terror of potentially losing power in a subsequent election. Indeed, their continued lack of action and standing up for public decency instead of protecting Ditta at all costs, will spill over into other wards, with people voting anti Tory as punishment for their lack of backbone. Read the signs, the electorate has long memories. Should an investigation in to the fiscal matters surrounding this commence, will Cllr Ditta resign his seat, or still continue to brazen out events for the sake of the majority?

Why have not the 'coalition' members brought the matter to a head? Or dont any of them want to lose power if it all collapses?

Leadership requires tough decisions Mr Geraghty, not just the kudos the post brings. Wield the knife and maybe, just maybe, the Conservatives might retain some credibility in all of this disgraceful charade.

Oh - and this from a middle of the road Tory voter, but not impressed one bit.

Oh - have the last tax statements and accounts as submitted to HMRC been made available yet, on behalf of Worcester Muslim Funeral Services? Indeed, if this is a front for Mr Ditta then he is in breach of the law by not declaring this in the interests of members.

But we should not be asking these questions - the Conservatives should be directly to Mr Ditta, in an 'interview without coffee'.

adilfrraz says...
11:37am Thu 6 Sep 12

Yesterday I attended a SWDP "roadshow" at the Horizon Community Centre and saw Mr Nasrul Islam (ex-lablour) the producer and star of the audio recording of the Cemetery conversation who was present. I with my working class background would be termed as a "labour voter", but not anymore. Yesterday clearly proved to me that Mr Nasrul Islam is still very active within his party and his priorities are more to do with ensuring votes are secured at any cost and to ensure he manages to settle old scores with Mr Ditta. It is sad to see that the producer and star of this audio recording has not been investigated or held to account. If this had been done then interestingly the wider community will find out the true basis and the manner in which this audio was produced and presented for. Only then can the people involved be held try accountable. The councillars are calling for Mr Ditta to quit then the Labour party have succeeded in what they set out to do undemecratically and very under-hand! Shame on the labour party. The evidence needs to be credible and honest.

adilfrraz says...
11:37am Thu 6 Sep 12

Yesterday I attended a SWDP "roadshow" at the Horizon Community Centre and saw Mr Nasrul Islam (ex-lablour) the producer and star of the audio recording of the Cemetery conversation who was present. I with my working class background would be termed as a "labour voter", but not anymore. Yesterday clearly proved to me that Mr Nasrul Islam is still very active within his party and his priorities are more to do with ensuring votes are secured at any cost and to ensure he manages to settle old scores with Mr Ditta. It is sad to see that the producer and star of this audio recording has not been investigated or held to account. If this had been done then interestingly the wider community will find out the true basis and the manner in which this audio was produced and presented for. Only then can the people involved be held try accountable. The councillars are calling for Mr Ditta to quit then the Labour party have succeeded in what they set out to do undemocratically and very under-hand! Shame on the labour party. The evidence needs to be credible and honest.

Truepear says...
2:44pm Thu 6 Sep 12

Just googled 'Allah Ditta Worcester' to see if i could get more information about his background and i came across this article

'EVERYONEFEARS ALLAH DITTA FAMILY': Court claim as four accused over attack on city councillor

A CITY councillor needed 19 stitches after violence erupted outside his home, a court heard.

Allah Ditta was taken to hospital suffering from two head cuts in the Arboretum attack last year.

But barristers at Worcester Crown Court accused Coun Ditta, the Conservative member for the All Saints ward, of sparking the trouble between two families.

Peter Arnold, defence counsel for one defendant - Hafiz Sabir - claimed "everyone is in fear" of the Ditta family.

And Andrew Fisher, representing another defendant, Tahira Maqsood, said she had made repeated complaints about them.

Sabir, aged 51, of Rose Avenue, Tolladine, admitted wounding Coun Ditta last October. He also admitted violent disorder.

Tanveer Ahmed, 31, of Nelson Road, St John's, admitted threatening behaviour. He denied affray and was given a not guilty verdict by Judge Michael Mott.

Maqsood, 28, of Southfield Street, Arboretum, denied violent disorder. She was also found not guilty but agreed to be bound over in the sum of £250 to keep the peace for 12 months.

The judge adjourned the case and ordered pre-sentence reports on Sabir, Ahmed and a fourth defendant, Asif Munir, who admitted on an earlier occasion to violent disorder and common assault.

Evidence will be given by witnesses on the day of sentence because of a dispute over the facts.

Stephen Thomas, prosecuting, said Mr Ditta and another man were attacked with weapons after the defendants gathered outside Mr Ditta's home. A woman from the Ditta family had her hair pulled. Maqsood was present.

Mr Arnold said Sabir took responsibility for Coun Ditta's injuries. Mr Lal Khan also suffered head injuries.

But Mr Arnold said Sabir did not accept the prosecution's claim that he struck Mr Khan. Also in dispute was the identity of the person who had introduced the weapons.

Mr Arnold said Sabir insisted that Mr Ditta had a weapon and he wrestled it from his grasp before striking with it.

"The background is one of repeated complaints by Tahira Maqsood of conduct by the complainant's family," said Mr Fisher. "Tensions and difficulties have been going on for a long time."

Adam Western, for Ahmed, said he had only used threatening words after he believed a member of his family was in danger.

"He was acting as peacemaker. There'd been six or seven months of provocation against this family."

The prosecutor said Munir had taken on the role of "fall-guy" by his admissions. But he may have admitted more than he was actually responsible for.

Truepear says...
2:50pm Thu 6 Sep 12

This totally alarming

Truepear says...
2:51pm Thu 6 Sep 12

*is

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree