Hyderabad, September 21: Promising that the Muslims will be a strong political force in Telangana State, leaders belonging to various groups sought the active participation of the community in on-going general strike.
Addressing a round table conference organised by Jamaat-e-Islami-e-Hindi at Islami Centre, Chatta Bazar, in the Old City on Wednesday, Editor The Siasat Daily Mr. Zahed Ali Khan reiterated that Muslims would emerge as a major political force in Telangana State and it would help them in achieving growth in various fields. He said that he gave a detailed representation to the Srikrishna Committee on Muslim’s stand on Telangana.
Other Telangana leaders claimed that the movement, so far, has received tremendous support from the Muslim community.
Speaking on the occasion, Telangana Political Joint Action Committee chairman Prof M Kodandaram said that the Muslims were subjected to injustices by the Andhra rulers and the same would not repeated in the Telangana State. Regarding the on-going general strike, he said that although the strike was being supported by all sections of the region, some political leaders were still not cooperating. He said that the decision to start the general strike was taken after consultation with all the concerned and it was intensified only after the Centre failed to reaction to MLAs resignations and the non-cooperation movement launched earlier.
TRS MLA K Taraka Ramarao said that the Muslims would have a strong presence and say in the State of Telangana. “They would be consulted on all policy decisions and they would be sharing power on par with other communities in the region,” he said. Refuting reports that Muslims were not actively participating in the movement, he said that Hyderabadi Muslims, especially those living in the Old City have been taking part in the agitation very actively. He also praised Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi for supporting the Telangana state. “Earlier, Owaisi advocated Union Territory status for Hyderabad, then he mooted the idea of Rayala-Telangana and now he is in favour of separate Telangana state,” KTR claimed.
Suspended TDP MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy admitted that injustices were done to the Muslim community in all fields in united Andhra Pradesh and the same practice would not be repeated in Telangana. He said that the Muslim community would enjoy more benefits in Telangana state compared to any other state in the country.
TDP Telangana Forum convener Errabelli Dayakar Rao said that despite several limitations by the party, the TDP leaders from the region are actively participating in the movement. Former minister T Devender Goud claimed that the TDP leaders were never against the statehood for Telangana and their commitment for the cause was not questionable.
The round-table conference was presided by Khaja Mohammad Arifuddin, Ameer (Andhra Pradesh & Orissa) and was also attended by Indian Horizon editor Raheemuddin Kamal, TRS leader Mahmood Ali, MPJ president Hamed Mohammad Khan and Iqbal Ahmed Engineer.
With INN inputs