MIM Opposes UT Status to Hyderabad, Suggests Telangana-Rayalaseema Merger

In its report to Srikrishna Committee, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) has opposed the demand for union territory status to Hyderabad and suggested the merger of Rayalaseema with Telangana to create greater Telangana if the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh becomes inevitable, said media reports.

In the past, the MIM didn’t back the cause of separate Telangana saying in a roundabout manner that it would like a united Andhra Pradesh.

However, in its report to Srikrishna panel, which was made public on Sunday, the MIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi brought in a new dimension to the whole Telangana issue by demanding the merger of Telangana and Rayalaseema regions.

Some Congress and TDP leaders made identical demands in the past which Telangana protagonists never received well.

Owaisi said that the Muslims in the state have doubt if bifurcation of the state would benefit the BJP, reports said.

“They feel that a separate Telangana state would largely help BJP achieve its single-point agenda to grab power from the Congress,” he was quoted as saying.

Explaining his party’s position on the issue, Owaisi said that Muslims did not witness any progress in the three states of Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh which were carved out of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, said reports.

He also said that the BJP created these smaller states to dislodge Congress from power, reports said.

The ideal situation for Muslims, he said, would be to keep the state united as it is in the interest of all sections, especially the minorities, reports said.

Owaisi said that Muslims have issues and concerns regarding the demand for separate Telangana state because of their apprehensions over safety, security and socio-economic well-being in the face of open hostility of BJP and other sangh parivar constituents and the deep-rooted animosity of Left parties.

(Based on internet reports)