Muslim organisations engage Majlis in T-war

Hyderabad, Feb 25 : Describing Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen as “traitor” of Telangana, the Telangana Muslims Joint Action Committee (TMJAC), the umbrella organisation of prominent pro-Telangana organisations, expressed apprehensions that the MIM could prevent the political empowerment of Muslims in the new State for its own gains.

Addressing a press conference at Gun Park, TMJAC President Mushtaq Mallik said that while the common Muslims of Telangana participated in the statehood movement, the MIM not only opposed the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, it made repeated attempts to sabotage the agitation. “Initially, the MIM openly opposed the formation of Telangana. As the movement grew stronger and Centre gave clear indications of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, they acted like a cat on the wall. The moment Telangana became almost a reality, they supported the Bill in the Assembly and later in the Lok Sabha,” he alleged.

Mushtaq Mallik alleged that the MIM leaders were now trying to capatalise the formation of Telangana while suppressing the political leadership that could emerge as its alternative in the new State. However, he said that the pro-Telangana Muslim organisations would not allow MIM or any other group to create obstacles in the political empowerment of Muslim community.

The Press conference was also addressed by Sunni Ulema Board President Moulana Hamed Shattari, Tareq Quadri of Sufi Council, Shahbaz Ali Khan of Mehedvia Movement, Alluddin Ansari of National League and others. They informed that the TMJAC would organise a round-table conference on February 27th at MP Garden Function Hall, near Mehdipatnam Bus Depot, on the subject “Future of Muslims in Telangana”.

They said that Muslims constitute over 12.4 per cent of the total population in Telangana and immediate steps need to be taken for their development.

Mushtaq Mallik said that a draft “Charter of Demands” would be prepared during the conference. The major demands would be 12 per cent reservation for Muslims in jobs and education, posts of Deputy CM and three ministers for Muslims in Telangana Cabinet, first official language status to Urdu, along with Urdu and restoration of encroached Wakf lands.  INN