Hyderabad, June 09: “Hamara aangan humko dedo” (give us back our courtyard), was the request made by the Muslim Forum for Telangana to members of the Srikrishna Committee here on Tuesday.
A delegation of the forum led by its convenor, Lateef Mohd. Khan, explained to the committee how the social and economic status of Muslims had deteriorated after Telangana was merged with Andhra.
They explained to the committee how Muslim culture and Urdu language were relegated to the background and how other regions’ politicians had instigated communal clashes for their political ends.
When the committee members sought their view on Greater Telangana the delegation opposed it stating that it was a political ploy. A majority of Muslims in the region were seeking Telangana along with Hyderabad. “We are the worst sufferers in Andhra Pradesh in education and employment,” they stated.
A delegation of Telangana Praja Sanghala JAC led by I. Thirumali of Delhi University, T. Bellaiah Naik, G. Kantham and others was asked what if exploitation of landlords went up in the new State.
They explained that Dalits and tribals were in the forefront of the Telangana movement and were in a position to deal with such problems.
When the committee members asked why emotional integration had not taken place in the State, a delegation of Telangana Senior Citizens’ Forum led by S. Sridhara Swamy, V. Chalapathi Rao and others explained that Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema people did not trust the people of Telangana. No agreement or accord on Telangana was implemented so far as Telangana had only one-third representation in the State legislature.
A delegation of All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) led by K. Sudheer told the committee that smaller states would not solve problems like unemployment, illiteracy and price rice. Committee members V.K. Duggal, Ravinder Kaur and Abusaleh Shariff heard the views.
–Agencies–