MIM accepts Centre’s decision on Telangana: Owaisi

Hyderabad, July 31: MIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that his party accepts the decision  taken by the Congress-led UPA Government to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh to carve out Telangana State.

Addressing a press conference at MIM’s headquarters Darulsalaam here on Wednesday, Asaduddin Owaisi said that the although his party accepts the decision, it fears that communal forces would gain strength in Telangana State. He said while the TRS, which led the statehood agitation, was merging with the Congress, the Telugu Desam Party is too weak in Telangana. In the changed political scenario, several communal forces would try to gain control through the politics of hatred, he said. However, he said that the MIM would continue to counter such forces in both the States and also demanded that the new government should come out with a strong policy to control communal forces.

Asaduddin Owaisi demanded that Urdu, along with Telugu, be made the first language in Telangana State and its status as second language should be continued in Andhra. He also demanded that Pranahita Chevella Project be declared National Project as it was done with Polavaram Project. Stating that Muslims understand the pain of division, he demanded that steps be taken to ensure the protection of lives and properties of those who settled in Hyderabad and its surroundings.

The MIM president said that the Hyderabad resources should be spent on Hyderabad only. He said the governments in both the States should give reservation to minorities based on their population. He said that there would be several new challenges to face during and after the creation of Telangana which he said would be discussed when the Telangana Bill is introduced in the Parliament.

Asaduddin Owaisi said that the MIM would strengthen its base in both Telangana and Andhra States.

- INN