The presence of the Saudi Arabia envoy has kicked up the speculation of rekindling Congress ties with Minorities but the wound seems to take more time to heal.
The ambassador of Saudi Arabia Dr Saud Mohammed Ali Sati who held discussion with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday, was joined for lunch by leaders of various political parties, the elite and intelligentsia of minorities at the residence of former minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir at Jubilee Hills.
Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana, Cabinet Ministers – Dr J Geetha Reddy, Sudhardhan Reddy, M Mukesh Goud and D Nagender, former Speaker KR Suresh Reddy, MLC Hafiz Peer Shabbir, DGP V Dinesh Reddy, DG (Intelligence) Mahinder Reddy, Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma, Chief Information Commissioner Jannat Hussain, RTC MD AK Khan and several other politicians and bureaucrats were in attendance.
However, the presence of GHMC Mayor Mohammad Majid Hussain and leaders of United Muslim Action Committee including Moulana Abdul Raheem Qureshi, Raheemuddin Ansari and others who are at loggerheads with the Congress Government was the element of surprise. Despite the strained relationship with the Congress, Majid Hussain’s presence has rekindled some hope of an early patch-up between the two parties.
The luncheon with the Saudi Ambassador has given hope besides sending a strong signal that Congress is extending its hand for friendship with the minorities.
Leaders of other political parties – TDP MLC Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Masqati and Mahmood Ali of TRS – also attended the luncheon in their individual capacities. Editors of Urdu newspapers including Syed Viqaruddin (Rahnuma-e-Deccan), Khan Lateef Khan (Munsif) and Amer Ali Khan (Siasat) were also present.
The gathering of leaders, intelligentsia and activists has brought glitter and hope as many feel that this was one of its kind in the recent past. However, the rupture between the Congress and MIM on the arrest of Akbaruddin and Asaduddin Owaisi seems to be still afresh.
It remains to be seen if the huge gathering of the elite could herald a new beginning in the relations of Congress and minorities. The presence of MIM and Congress on the same plank sends so positive signals, but will it translate to tilt the political equation is something we have to wait and see.
—Agencies