Last night, the chilly winter calm of old city was disturbed by a political commotion, though a poll eve hoopla, but an unprecedented sort. Congress, which finds itself now friendless in Hyderabad, wants to demonstrate to the world that Muslims of Hyderabad are with Congress and not with MIM. This is for the first time that Congress is making an attempt to assert itself in Old City, which is a protected sanctuary of MIM of Owaisis. Never in the past, had Congress tried to ruffle the feathers of MIM. The party had maintained an alliance with MIM and left the old city to Owaisis in return of their support to the Congress in Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. With the backing of the Congress, which was the ruling party both at centre and at state, MIM virtually became the Nizam of Hyderabad. Times changed after the creation of Telangana state. Congress is no longer a ruling party anywhere. So MIM jettisoned the Congress to join the TRS. Till last GHMC elections, MIM and Congress formed the Council in GHMC. As it is difficult to wean away the MIM from TRS, the Congress is trying to lure local Muslim leaders into Congress in the hope that it would weaken the MIM and help the party secure some seats in the Old City area. Md Ali Shabbir Leader of Opposition in the Telangana council took it upon himself to bring the grass-root MIM leaders to Congress. Last night, both T-PCC president N Uttamkumar Reddy and Shabbir organized the program to invite the Muslim leaders into the party. This was the reason for the sudden Congress flutter in the MIM stronghold. All the stalwarts of the T-Congress descended on Old City to make the program look an invasion of Old City by the Congress. Whether it is a true capture of Old City of just a Song& Drama organized for the GHMC elections will be known only after the polling. However,more than 100 MIM leaders and workers, mostly from the Old City of Hyderabad, joined the Congress party here on Sunday.
MIM’s ex-corporator from Fateh Darwaza Meraj Mohammed formally joined the Congress party at Gandhi Bhavan in the presence of TPCC President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Leaders of Opposition K. Jana Reddy (Assembly) and Mohammed Ali Shabbir (Council), Rajya Sabha MP V. Hanumantha Rao, Working President Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, GHCC Minorities Dept chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail and other leaders. They were given warm reception by the Congress leaders and activists who were present in large numbers to attend party’s division-level review meeting today.
Speaking on the occasion, Uttam Kumar Reddy welcomed Meraj Mohammed and other leaders and activists of MIM. He said that the Congress party had been acting as the true representative of Muslims and other communities alike and have been fighting for the cause of secularism.
Shabbir Ali pointed out that it was the Congress party which provided 4% Muslim reservation in the then united Andhra Pradesh which is still benefitting thousands of poor Muslims families in both the States of Telangana and AP. He said over a million poor families benefitted from the 4% Muslim reservation policy and the number of beneficiaries is increasing every year. He accused the MIM of creating obstacles in the growth and development of Muslim community. Despite getting elected for law making bodies since 1961, MIM did nothing for the development of Old City.
Abdullah Sohail said hundreds of MIM workers are waiting to join the Congress party. He said that the MIM leaders and workers have realised that they would not be able to serve the community if they continue with the dictatorial and opportunistic politics of MIM leaders. He said that the forthcoming GHMC elections would lead to a new revolution in history of Hyderabad politics, especially in the Old City.
Prominent leaders including Mirza Sultan Qari, Quddus Gowri Advocate, Irfan Mirza, Mohammed Afroz, Syed Rashed, Mohammed Muneer, Mohammed Zaheer, Syed Ifteqar, Aijaz Ahmed, Mohammed Moin and Syed Dilawar joined the Congress party today.
