Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday admitted that continuing the support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre after 2002 Gujarat riots was a mistake which spoiled TDP’s image as a secular party.
Addressing a meeting of the intellectuals and leaders of the Muslim community at Meridian Function Hall at Malakpet here, Naidu said that several Muslim leaders distanced themselves from the TDP after the Gujarat riots. Regretting the support that he extended to the BJP-led NDA, the TDP chief promised that he would never tie-up with any communal party in future. However, he claimed that the TDP members lodged protest in the Parliament over the Gujarat riots.
Naidu said that the TDP would constitute a committee to understand the economic, educational and social problems being faced by the Muslims across the State. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the problems would be solved, if TDP comes to power in next elections. He also promised that the Muslims would be given reservation in jobs and education with proportionate to their population.
The TDP chief claimed that it was the TDP which took the initiative for the educational upliftment of Muslims in the State. He also took the credit for putting an end to the communal riots in the Old City of Hyderabad. Regarding Telangana, he said that the party was discussing the issue and would soon take a final decision on the same.
TDP’s polit-bureau member and Siasat Editor Zahed Ali Khan, former MP SM Lal Jaan Pasha, former minister N Md Farooq, former chairman Wakf Board Mir Yousuf Ali, TDP Secretary MA Hakeem and other leaders participated in the meeting.
–Agencies