Congress conducts massive rally in Old City

Hyderabad, Jan 10 (INN): The Congress party has alleged that the MIM has prevented the then Congress Government from developing the Old City of Hyderabad so as to continue the exploitation of local residents.

Addressing different corner meetings at Etebar Chowk, Bada Bazar, SRT Colony and other areas in Yakutpura on Sunday evening. Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir said that the MIM, which was an ally of Congress since 2004, always objected to the development plans for Old City. Apologising for the lack of development, he appealed to the people to weed out MIM from the Old City and vote for Congress in the GHMC elections. Questioning MIM's commitment towards the Muslim community, he said that the MIM leaders have made big fortunes by selling away seats of educational institutions run by Darulsalaam Education Society. He challenged MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi to release the list of candidates who were given free seats in engineering or medical colleges run by his party.

Shabbir Ali also slammed MIM leaders for compromising with the TRS Government on the issue of Alair encounter. He said that the MIM, which held over 40 protest meetings after Akbaruddin Owaisi was attacked, did not hold a single demonstration against the Alair encounter. He said that the Special Investigation Team, which was constituted to probe into the encounter, has proved to be an eye wash. Similarly, MIM remained silent on Kishanbagh firing incident, murder of 12-year-old boy Mustafa Shaik in military garrison and other atrocities on Muslims. MIM leaders silence on KCR's promise of 12% Muslim reservation too was highly questionable, he said. He said former MIM President late Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi was more committed towards the community while his successors have deviated from the original policy.

The Congress leader sought a clarification from Asaduddin Owaisi over the controversial hoarding which depicted Chief Minister's K. Chandrashekar Rao's feet over the Namaz cap. He said that the placement of hoarding has hurt the sentiments of entire Muslim community. KCR must apologise for this act as he, through the hoarding, tried to convey that entire Muslim community was beneath his feet.

Shabbir Ali ridiculed MIM's slogan 'Shaher Hamara, Mayor Hamara'. "MIM had 6 Mayors in the city since 1986. What those Mayors did for the development of Old City? The last GHMC Mayor too belonged to MIM, but the party could not waive off building fee for new building of Haj House," he said. He also alleged that the MIM leaders have accumulated huge wealth and could not survive without aligning with the ruling party. Apparently for the same reason, MIM leaders have made friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee (Minorities Dept) Chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail, who organised the rally, said that the Congress party's entry into the Old City has sent shockwaves among MIM leaders. He said that the Congress party wanted to have an open electoral battle with the MIM in the entire Old City. However, MIM leaders are trying to use women as a shield and got most of the wards reserved for women, he said.

Abdullah Sohail said so far hundreds of MIM workers and many prominent leaders have joined the Congress party and many more will join in the next few days. He said that the Congress party would expose MIM's failures during the GHMC election campaign. He said that the Congress workers would knock at every household in the Old City to appeal to them to join the revolution against the discrimination and backwardness of their areas.

CLP Secretary and Pargi MLA C. Ram Mohan Reddy listed out various schemes implemented by the previous Congress regime for the welfare of Muslims. He said 4% Muslim reservation has revolutionised the lives of lakhs of poor Muslim families. He slammed KCR for not implementing the promise of 12% Muslim reservation.

TPCC Minorities Department Chairman Mohammed Fakhruddin assured that the Congress party would fight for the rights of people of Old City and ensure the development of their areas.

GHCC Secretary Syed Nizamuddin announced that the Congress party would intensify its campaign in the Old City and the entire schedule would be announced soon. He said padayatra, street corner meetings and public meetings would be organised in all the municipal divisions of Old City.