GHYA chairman Irfan joins Congress

Greater Hyderabad Youth Association (GHYA) chairman and MIM leader M.A. Irfan today joined the Congress party in the presence of AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh here.

Irfan, along with some 300 MIM workers, joined the Congress at a meeting held at Metro Classic Gardens in Aramgarh. Welcoming Irfan into the party, Digvijay Singh said Irfan has been an inspiration for the city youth. His bravery act in taking out a live bomb at Mecca Masjid in 2007 received world-wide praise and acknowledgement. “He is also a recipient of several awards, including Telangana Youth Icon Award and Bharat Gaurav Samman Award. He has been into social service and played a key role in maintaining peace and communal harmony in the city. Digvijay Singh hoped that Irfan’s entry into Congress would help the party in strengthening its base in the Old City of Hyderabad.

TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Leaders of Opposition in the Telangana legislature — K. Jana Reddy and Mohammed Ali Shabbir, TPCC Working President Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Rajya Sabha MP V. Hanumantha Rao, Greater Hyderabad Congress president Danam Nagender, former minister P. Sabitha Indira Reddy and other senior leaders were also present.

Speaking to mediapersons later, Irfan thanked the Congress leaders for admitting him into the party. He said he was quite impressed with the role played by Mohammed Ali Shabbir in getting 4% Muslim reservation in 2004. The other schemes like Arogyasri, Fee Reimbursement, Scholarships and similar initiatives taken by the then Congress Government helped crores of poor people. He said only Congress party was capable of fighting the communal forces in the country. Irfan said this was the right time for the youth to join the Congress party and he would strive to strengthen the party in the Greater Hyderabad limits. (NSS)