Several Muslim organizations actively participated in the Telangana movement will organise a round-table on February 27 at MP Garden Function Hall, near Mehdipatnam Bus Depot, on the subject “Future of Muslims in Telangana”.
Addressing the media after paying homage to Telangana Martyrs at Gun Park opposite Assembly building here, TMJAC and Tahreek Muslim Shabban president Mushtaq Mallik said Muslims constitute over 12.4 per cent of the total population in Telangana and immediate steps need to be taken for their development. He said Muslims played an active role in the realization of dream of Telangana State. The Muslims across the Telangana region have wholeheartedly participated in the agitation. The Muslim community strongly feels that its future is secure in Telangana State and they are sure that they would enjoy equal rights, opportunities and respect along with other communities in the new State, he added.
Sunni Ulema Board president Moulana Hamed Shuttari, Tareq Quadri of Sufi Council, Shahbaz Ali Khan of Mehedvia Movement, Alluddin Ansari of National League and others also spoke. They also said a draft “Charter of Demands” would be prepared during the conference which will be attended by the representatives of Muslims organizations, both religious and social groups, from 10 districts of Telangana, who actively participated in the statehood movement. The “Charter of Demands” include 12% Reservation for Muslims in Jobs and Education, posts of Deputy CM and three ministers for Muslims in Telangana Cabinet, First official language status to Telugu along with Urdu, Restoration of Wakf lands presently under the control of Lanco, RGIA and Viceroy Hotel, Political empowerment of Muslims
‘MIM is a traitor of Telangana’
The TMJAC leaders described the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen as “traitor” of Telangana. They alleged that the MIM was trying to prevent the political empowerment of Muslims in the new State. They said while the common Muslims of Telangana participated in the statehood movement, the MIM not only opposed the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, it also made repeated attempts to sabotage the agitation. They also pointed out that 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, they alleged. (NSS)