MiM Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi's reply to the debate on the motion of thanks for the Governor’s Address

MiM Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi Giving Speech in Hyderabad.

MiM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi Speech in Assembly on the Motion of thanks to Governor's Address in Andhra Pradesh State Assembly.

The Honourable Governor's Address to the Assembly is the fourth such address after the Congress regained power in the State in the historic 2004 elections. The Governor's address, incidentally, provides a mid-term review of the performance of the Congress government under Dr Rajasekhar Reddy's stewardship. The Congress made many promises in the election manifesto for 2004 polls and the government has taken steps to fulfil these promises over the last 33 months.

So far as the minorities are concerned, the Government made efforts to fulfil the promise for five percent reservations for Muslims in professional education and public employment. However, this decision has faced legal obstacles with the Honourable High Court striking down the reservations twice. Now the issue is pending before the Honourable Supreme Court.

We expected the Governor to make a mention of the government's commitment to the reservations for Muslims and the efforts being made to overcome the legal hurdles. But it is unfortunate that there is glaring omission of this all important issue in the Governor's address which is supposed to be a policy statement of the government, providing a review of its achievements in the outgoing year and setting out the agenda for the government in terms of its policies and priorities for the ensuing year. It would have been in the fitness of things if the Governor had referred to the reservations for Muslims.

I would like the Honourable Chief Minister to clarify on the efforts being made by the Government to implement the decision on Muslimm reservations by overcoming the legal hurdles. I am sorry to point out that there is no forward movement on this key issue with the Honourable Supreme Court yet to constitute the constitutional bench to hear the state government's appeal against the High Court's judgement quashing the five percent reservations for Muslims. I would like to request the Honourable Chief Minister to request the Government of India to implead in the case. The Attorney General of India should be requested to assist the government on the issue.

Recently, while inaugurating national seminar on "Challenges and Opportunities for Indian Muslims (Sachar Committee Report) hosted by AP United Muslim Action Committee here in Hyderabad, the Chief Minister had made several announcements like cent percent coverage of Muslim students in pre and post-matric scholarships in the state from the next financial year, opening of 36 new hostels exclusively for Muslim boys and girls and financial assistance for modernization of education in Madrasas.

The Chief Minister also spoke about steps to make the minorities feel that they are stake-holders in the development of the state. He also assured that so far as Sachar Committee recommendations in relation to the state are concerned, the government would its best to implement them. I would like to know from the Chief Minister what follow up action is being taken by the State Government for implementation of Sachar Committee recommendations.

I would like to draw the attention of the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister's New 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities, which spells out a slew of measures, schemes, programmes, policy interventions and initiatives for enhancing opportunities for education for minorities, for providing equitable share in economic activities and employment for minorities, for improving the living conditions of minorities and for prevention and control of communal riots.

A number of centrally sponsored schemes and programmes are being implemented by the state government and the PM's 15-Point programme clearly states that minorities should be covered under these schemes and programmes alongwith other sections of society. These schemes include Integrated Child Development Services, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya scheme, teaching of Urdu, modernizing Madarsa education, self-employment and wage employment schemes such as SGSY, SJSRY and NREGP, bank credit and micro credit, Indira Awaas Yojana, IHSDP and JNNURM, besides recruitment to state services, including police force, etc. I would request the Chief Minister to spell out the action plan for implementing the PM's New 15-Point Programme for Minorities.

The Governor's Address offers some positive signals for the minorities. The Governor has announced that the allocation for scholarships for the minorities would be doubled in the ensuing financial year from Rs.31 crore in the outgoing financial year. The Governor also mentioned that scholarship rates have been enhanced.

However, I would like to point out that the budgetary allocation needs to be further enhanced to fulfil the Chief Minister's announcement on the floor of the Assembly last year that the scholarship rates for minorities would be brought on par with the Backward Classes. This has not been done so far, though modest increases have been effected in the scholarship rates for minority students at pre-matric and post-matric levels.

Our party also welcomes the Governor's announcement that the government proposed to saturate the post-matric scholarship and reimbursement of tuition fees to all eligible students among BCs and minorities beginning from next year as is being done for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
This saturation should cover the pre-matric students also as promised by the Chief Minister.

I am sorry to point out that nothing has been mentioned in the Governor's address about Urdu education, effective steps for implementation of Urdu as second official language in 15 districts, including the appointment of Second Official Language Commission for Urdu. Similarly, nothing has been mentioned about the scheme proposed by the Chief Minister for grants-in-aid for modernization of Madrasa education. No mention has also been made about the 36 new hostels for minorities promised by the Chief Minister.

The Governor dwelt at length on the implementation of land reforms and the scheme taken up for large-scale distribution of lands to the landless poor during the last two year. The government has launched second generation land reforms (Bhoo Yagnam) for resuming the assigned lands in the illegal possession of influential persons but I would request the Honourable Chief Minister to take effective steps for resumption of Wakf lands in the illegal occupation of influential persons and institutions, including government agencies. A drive should be launched to take back Wakf lands which are under illegal occupation.

So far as weaker sections housing programme is concerned, I would like to point out that the minorities, particularly Muslims, are not allotted houses in proportion to their population or as per the stipulated quota in urban and rural housing schemes. Our party welcomes the decision of the government to come out with a policy to help lower middle and middle class families to have their own houses, especially in view of the soaring land prices.

The Governor has referred to the emerging water challenge in the state capital. There is urgent need to take up the third phase of the Krishna Drinking Water Supply scheme for bringing a further 90 million gallons per day to the twin cities. Moreover, the Chief Minister had announced recently that 33 tmc feet of water or 550 MGD would be brought to Hyderabad through the Pranahita-Godavari link scheme. But the Governor has talked about only bringing 10 tmc feet of Godavari water to the city. This is not enough to tackle the impending water crisis.

Regarding the Old City of Hyderabad, the Governor has reiterated the Chief Minister's
announcement of a special package of Rs 2024.65 crore to improve the basic infrastructural facilities in the next three years. The Governor has said that a similar proposal for the development of other parts of the twin cities is being prepared. Here, I would like to request the Chief Minister to ensure budgetary allocations under the State budget and central schemes to the tune of Rs.750 crore per year for expeditious implementation of Old City package as scheduled.

Another suggestion I would like to make. Hyderabad District Collector, Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad and Hyderabad Urban Development Authority are overburdened with work of implementation of various schemes, programmes and projects in the twin cities. Therefore, for effective implementation and monitoring of the Old City special package, the Quli Qutub Shah Authority should be strengthened by conferring the statutory statue of an Urban Development Authority. Adequate staff, powers and financial allocations should be made to QQSUDA for overseeing the implementation of Old City special package.

The Governor has mentioned about the Mass Rapid Transit System to be taken up at an outlay of Rs 7,986 crore for covering 60 kms in the first phase. The work on the MRTS is scheduled to commence in the ensuing financial year. The government should take care that a minimum number of properties are affected under this project, particularly in the Old City of Hyderabad. The government should also ensure that the affected property owners are paid compensation at the prevailing market rates to avoid hardships and litigation.

I would also request the Government to take up the Bus Rapid Transit System as a complementary scheme for the MRTS. The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad has already accorded sanction for the BRTS, covering a length of 42 kms at a cost of Rs 316 crore. The BRTS is essential for solving the chronic traffic problem in Hyderabad city. There is also need to expeditiously complete the Outer Ring Road project to ease the traffic chaos in the twin cities.

As regards Hussainsagar Lake and Catchment Area Improvement project with an outlay of Rs 310 crore, I may point out that we have been hearing for several years now that the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation has evinced interest in the project and agreed to extending financial assistance. But nothing has happened so far and we hope that this time, atleast, the work on the project gets going to restore the lake water quality and ecology at the earliest. However, there is no mention about the Musi River Conservation project and I request the Chief Minister to enlighten the House on this scheme.

Our party welcomes the plans to ensure water and power supply on round-the-clock basis for the state capital. I would request the Chief Minister to ensure that there are no power cuts in the current summer, especially in the cities and towns, in view of the ensuing public examinations for SSC, Intermediate, polytechnic, professional and degree and post-graduate courses during March and April.

As regards the government's decision to set up regional development boards to ensure balanced regional development and development of all districts. This has been a longstanding demand of our party and the Finance Minister K Rosaiah reacted positively while replying to debates on state budget earlier but the implementation of the assurance has taken unduly long time. The sooner the regional boards are
constituted, the better. However, unless a special package is announced for Telangana, as demanded by our party repeatedly, no purpose will be served by reviving the regional boards which were abolished without rhyme or reason by previous TDP government headed by N T Rama Rao in the early 1980s.

On the issue of Naxalism, I may recall that the Congress manifesto promised to hold peace talks with the Maoists to find a lasting solution to this protracted problem. The Congress viewed this problem as a socio-economic issue rather than strictly a law and order problem. But, after the aborted peace talks in 2004, the government seems to treat left-wing extremism purely as a law and order problem by giving a free hand to the police to neutralize the Maoists through arrests, induced surrenders and encounter killings. Encounters are no answer and it would be better if the Government revives the peace talks with Maoists at the earliest.

Additional points on Governor's address:

The Governor has mentioned that the state's economy is showing significant growth. During the Tenth plan period, which ends on March 31 this year, the state has recorded higher growth compared to eighth and ninth plans. Without imposing fresh taxes, the Honourable Finance Minister has managed the State finances very well in the last 33 months, without resorting to ways and means advances or overdraft from the RBI for a single day. I hope that the Finance Minister would fulfil the target of bringing down the revenue deficit to zero level by the year 2009.

The agricultural sector is also showing signs of growth, thanks to the short-term and long-term initiatives taken by the government to help the distressed farmers. The Central government has approved a package of Rs 9,650 crore for the 16 districts in the state where a large number of farmers' suicides were reported. It is heartening to know that the foodgrains production in the state during the previous year reached an all-time high of 169 lakh tones.

As regards Jalayagnam, the government has launched the work for completion of 30 major and 18 medium irrigation projects to create an additional ayacut of 69 lakh acres
besides stabilizing existing ayacut of 21 lakh acres. I may recall that the government had promised to complete at least eight major projects in the first two years and the remaining projects in five-year period.

But there has been time overrun on this score, though an additional ayacut of 12 lakh acres has been created so far. Our party demands that all the ongoing projects should be completed expeditiously, so that the backward areas in Telangana, Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra get the much-needed irrigation water. Work should commence immediately on Pranahita-Godavari link project also.

On the issue of Special Economic Zones, it has been mentioned that the total extent of lands required for the SEZs would come to 1.5 lakh acres. The Governor has assured that the Government would ensure that "unless it is absolutely warranted, no wet land is acquired for creation of SEZs." By saying so, the government is not ruling out the option of acquiring wet land in case of "absolute necessity" for the SEZs. We do not want the wet agricultural lands to be acquired for SEZs at all. Otherwise, this will cause heartburns to farmers and deprive them of their livelihood.

The power situation is turning to be precarious. The government should expeditiously complete the ongoing power projects in the public sector, including the 2,100 Megawatts combined cycle gas-based project near Karimnagar which is meant to supply power to Hyderabad . The Simhadri expansion power project and the Ultra mega power project at Krishnapatnam also need to be commissioned at the earliest. The government should make efforts to secure gas supply for the gas-based power projects, which are awaiting commissioning due to non-supply of gas so far.

Our party welcomes the novel scheme being introduced to provide insurance cover to BPL families for treating major ailments. The Arogya Sri scheme should cover all BPL families for providing insurance cover to the extent of Rs two lakh per annum. I would speak more on this subject when the demands for medical and health are taken up in the House later.

Also, the government should ensure effective implementation of all the schemes and programmes meant for improving school education. The Governor has announced that about 300 concept schools under public-private partnership mode are being proposed to bridge the rural urban divide in digital and communication skills. I would like the Chief Minister to give more details of this scheme when replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks for the Governor's address.

With these words, I conclude my speech and thank the Honourable Speaker for giving me this opportunity.

Seminar Held By MIM and AP United Muslim Action Committee On Sachar Committee Report

Union HRD Minister Ashraf Ali Fatmi giving a speech at seminar seated are MiM President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi ,Andhra Pradesh CM Ys Rajashekar Reddy and Sachar Committee Member Dr Abu Saleh Shariff Phd

Chief Minister announces aid for Schools and Scholarships for Muslim Students at Seminar in Hyderabad.

HYDERABAD,Jan 13 : Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has announced 100 per cent coverage of Muslim students in pre and post-matric scholarships in the State from the next financial year Inaugurating a two-day national seminar on `challenges and opportunities for Indian Muslims' hosted by All India Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen and Andhra Pradesh United Muslim Action Committee in the light of Sachar Committee report Findings here on Saturday, Dr. Reddy said that the Government would construct 36 hostels, besides the existing 12, in the State for Muslim boys and girls.
On Computer education He said that the pre and post-matric scholarships were a niggardly Rs. 4 crores when he took over the reins of the State and the same had been enhanced to Rs. 33 crores last year. The Government introduced computer education in madarasas and would launch science, English and other subjects in those institutions. Recalling that the five per cent reservation for Muslims, which his Government proposed, was caught in legal wrangles "as a BJP leader has approached the court", Dr. Reddy exuded confidence that the hurdles could be overcome. While 200 Muslim students secured seats in medical education, 3,000 others got admission in professional courses like MBA and engineering. The Chief Minister reiterated that the Government was committed to developing the old city with an outlay of Rs. 2,000 crores in the next three years. He assured the Muslims of ensuring an inclusive participation and opportunities in every sphere of Government activity.Madrasas in the state will get either grant-in-aid or a one-time grant to upgrade and modernize, chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said .
He said that the state government was committed to the upliftment of minorities in terms of education, housing and employment opportunities. "The budget for pre and post metric scholarships will be increased to Rs 33 crore from Rs 10 crore from the next year so that every minority student who applies gets a scholarship,'' the CM said.Stating that there were persistent allegations that the Old City was being neglected, he said: "The state government has recently announced a Rs 2,000 crore package and it will be spent in the next three years to develop the older parts of Hyderabad,'' the CM.The state government would also have to implement the Sachar Committee recommendations in areas like employment.
Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development Mohammed Ashraf Ali Fatmi said that he would submit the report on the action plan to implement the Sachar Committee report to the Union HRD Minister on January 21.on the likely implementation of the report said the state government would also have to implement the Sachar Committee recommendations in areas like employment. On the likely implementation of the report. Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi said in his long political career he has heard lot about
Development and promises for Muslims by many Govts over the years and added if infact all these promises had been done then the Muslims of India would had been the most forward but infact it is the opposite and Muslims still live under bad conditions and there was a urgent need for there upliftment and the MiM Supremo said Sachar Committee Report is an eye opener for all and added that only two chief ministers -- Jalagam Vengala Rao and Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy -- fulfilled the promises they made to the Muslim community.
Sachar Committee member Abusaleh Shariff gave a detailed presentation on the conditions of Muslims in the country and recommendations to improve their lot. Shariff said the percentage of Muslims occupying government posts was negligible and even less were availing bank loans . Many noted academics ,Journalists, Non Resident Indians , Managment Students and Islamic Scholars attended the Meeting and jubilee hall was packed with Listeners. MiM MP Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi was the Convenor of the Seminar.Others who attended the meeting were Syed Akbar Nizamuddin Hussaini Saberi ,Moulana Taqi Raza Abedi,Moulana Syed Masood Hussain Mujtahidi,Barrister Sardar Ali Khan, Dr Amirullah Khan ,Prof M.Suleman Siddiqui,Moulana Abdul Raheem Quershi, Mohammed Raheemuddin Ansari and State Govt Ministers Mohammed Ali Shabbir and Mohammed Fareeduddin and Chief Secretary Jannat Hussain .

MiM : Press Conference On SRC and Two day Seminar On Sachar Committee Report

Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi

Hyderabad, Jan 11: The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MiM) on Thursday said the issue of granting Statehood to Telangana should be decided only by a State Reorganisation Commission (SRC) . Addressing a press Conference here, MiM MP Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the Congress’ decision to press for a second SRC on Telangana. The Statehood to Telangana should not be granted unilaterally. The Central government should take views of all parties into account before carving out a new State. The appropriate body to start this process of consultation is only the States Reorganisation Commission.” He said. MP Asaduddin Owaisi said Muslims were a party to the Telangana issue and their views should be taken. We will present our views on the status of Hyderabad as and when the SRC is set up. Mr. Owaisi added. The MiM MP accused the Congress and the previous Telugu Desam governments of neglecting the welfare of Muslims in Telangana. “Telangana is backward so are the Muslims in the region .Telangana is a sensitive issue and it should not be dealt with in a hurry.” Mr. Owaisi suggested. He demanded that the Central government allocate at least Rs 3,000 crores for educational uplift of Muslims in the 11th five year plan Saying the report of the Rajinder Sachar committee that went into the educational, economic and social backwardness of Muslims was an eyeopener, he urged the central government to announce a plan for the community. The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MP is organizing a two-day national seminar on 'Challenges and Opportunities for Indian Muslims' here from Saturday.Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and eminent scholars as well as experts will address the seminar, which will discuss various aspects of the report and come out with recommendations to be submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.After the seminar a delegation will call on the prime minister and urge him to allocate substantial funds for educational, economic and social improvement of the conditions of Muslims, Owaisi told reporters Thursday.He said reservations for Muslims in jobs and educational institutions could be concrete steps to help the community.

MiM MP Asaduddin Owaisi On Sachar Committee Report and Reservation in Parliament

Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi Giving a Speech in Hyderabad.

MiM MP Asaduddin Owaisi On Sachar Committee Report and Reservation in Parliament

ASADUDDIN OWAISI MP (HYDERABAD) : Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I rise to support the Bill that has been tabled in the august House. I have got some important points to bring to the notice of the august House.
The Sachar Committee report has been tabled in this House. It clearly states the educational backwardness of the Muslim community. According to Sachar Report, there are 39 per cent OBCs and 0.8 per cent Scheduled Caste in the Muslim community.
I support this Bill which provides reservation in Central Universities to SCs, STs and OBCs. However, I would like to know as to how fair it is to deny the benefits of reservation on the basis of religion, especially after the Government has tabled the Sachar Report in this august House which shows how bad my educational standards are and my conditions are.
I would just like to quote one point here as far as the report is concerned. Page 73 of Sachar Report clearly says, “The percentage of population of graduates, as far as the Muslims are concerned, is 1.2 and those attending P.G. courses is 16.3.” It is lesser in Muslims than in dalits also. You are not implementing these minority universities over there. But why is it that I am being denied such benefits? Moreover, the Presidential Order of 1950 contravenes the basic fundamental rights given in the Constitution.
How is it that only SCs belonging or professing the religion of Hinduism or Sikhism or neo Buddhism are being given reservation? Why not Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims? This question has to be pondered over by the Government. I would request you sincerely, Sir, that the Government should come forward and ensure that the 1950 Presidential Order, Schedule III is amended. It says that only a person professing Hinduism or Sikhism or neo Buddhism can be classified as Schedule Caste. How is that possible? This Report of yours clearly says this. There is this argument about Muslims and OBCs. Why is it such a low percentage is there? This has to be looked into.
Lastly, about Jamia Milia University, how is that the present Vice-Chancellor wants to implement this present Bill in Jamia Milia University? Why has the Vice-Chancellor overnight changed this position? Why are we being denied such benefits? I would request you that this issue has to be taken care of. They have applied to the National Minority Education Commission also. It is pending over there. If Jamia Milia University is not a minority University, then, which is a minority university? This is a very important question. These are important points I wanted to bring to the notice of the august House.
I support this Bill. I hope that this UPA Government will take affirmative action and will not deny us reservation under Article 16(4). If people are opposed to reservations to Muslims, they should look into the pre-native history of Article 16(4). It is none other than Sardar Vallabhai Patel, who has stated `classes’ means `Minorities’. He was the Chairman of that Advisory Committee. Why are Muslims having reservations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka? Why can they not be given reservations nationwide? It has to be done. Literacy rate of 13 per cent of population is only 59. There is a huge difference between literate and educated persons. You can very well imagine 13 per cent of population with a literacy of 59 per cent. Hence, I would request that the Government should come forward with the proposal and I hope that the hon. Minister, when he stands up to reply would respond to this or this UPA Government has to amend 1950 Presidential Order. They have to take affirmative action under Articles 15(4) and 16(4).
Thank you.

MiM : Muslims get a raw deal in A.P land distribution scheme

Majlis ittehadul Muslimeen Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi

MiM : Muslims get a raw deal in A.P land distribution scheme


The Muslims in the State got a raw deal in recently-concluded land distribution scheme of Indira Prabha, which was done in three phases from last year. The total land distributed was 3,94,349 acres in which Muslims were allotted less than one per cent. Only 2,812 muslims got the land out of 2,56,060 beneficiaries. The contrast was more glaring in the third round with just 191 Muslims getting land out of 35,999 beneficiaries. It is surprising the government went ahead with the land distribution without allotting not even a single acre in some of the districts. In Visakhapatnam, West Godavari and Ranga Reddy districts minorities did not get even a single acre. Minorities belonging to Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts were ignored in second phase, and Prakasam, Warangal, Kadapa and East Godavari district muslims were cold shouldered in the third phase. “It is disheartening to see that so many districts failed to provide land to the poor Muslims,
though the scheme is meant for them,” said MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi after he staged a walk-out from the Assembly.

THE HISTORY OF MAJLIS E ITTEHADUL MUSLIMEEN PARTY

MiM President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi addressing a Public Meeting in Hyderabad.

The grip of Majlis-e-ittehadul Muslimeen on the community remains strong, With a Member representing Hyderabad in the Lok Sabha, five members in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, 40 corporators in Hyderabad and 95-plus members elected to various municipal bodies in Andhra Pradesh, the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen is one of the foremost representatives of the States Muslims and the most powerful Muslim party in India and one can see the party’s strength if he goes to Hyderabad and Parts of Muslim Dominated Villages of Andhra Pradesh .Everywhere u look u can see MIM written on walls ,light poles and buildings besides green flags and posters of there Leaders fluttering over there small Offices .The Majlis has brought a lot of development to the Old parts of the city even though its opponents who are mostly Ex Majlis workers. Keep harping that nothing has been done. The Majlis was formed in 1927 “for educational and social upliftment of Muslims”. But it articulated the position that “the ruler and throne (Nizam) are symbols of the political and cultural rights of the Muslim community… (And) this status must continue forever”. The Majlis pitted itself against the Andhra Mahasabha and the communists who questioned the feudal order that sustained the Nizam’s rule. It also bitterly opposed the Arya Samaj, which gave social and cultural expression to the aspirations of the urban Hindu population in the Hyderabad State of those days. In the year 1927 the Ulema, Mashaikeen and Mouzzizeen of all sections of Muslim community of Hyderabad had formed a party called “Ittehaad Bainul Muslimeen”. This party’s 3rd president Nawab Mohammad Bahadur Khan (Khaid-E-Millat) changed the party’s name to “Mumlikat-E-Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen”. In the year 1948 the police action took place during that movement the 6th president of the party was Moulana Khasim Razvi Sahab.By the mid-1940s, the Majlis had come to represent the Muslim minority as a united front The opponents regarded it as remarkably aggressive and a violent face of Muslim militancy as it organized the razakars (volunteers) to defend the “independence” of this “Muslim” State from merger with the Indian Union. According to historians, over 1,50,000 such `volunteers’ were organized by the Majlis for the Nizam State’s defense but and according to them again they are remembered for unleashing unparalleled violence against Hindus and the communists and all those who opposed the Nizam’s “go it alone” policy. It is estimated that during the height of the razakar `agitation’, over 30,000 people had taken shelter in the Secunderabad cantonment alone to protect themselves from these `volunteers’ and on the other hand thousands of Muslims were killed by the Indian army. But the razakars could do little against the Indian Army. Moulana Khasim Razvi Sahab was arrested and was sent to Poona Jail and the organization banned in 1948. In the year 1957 he was released on the basis that he must leave India and go to Pakistan. Before going to Pakistan he offered several people to take over the charge of President Ship of the “Mumlikat-E-Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen” party, but no one came forward to accept. Moulana Razvi Sahab then called Moulana Abdul Wahed Owaisi a famous lawyer and an Islamic scholar from Jamia Nizamia and nominated him as the President of “Mumlikat-E-Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen” party. Those were the days when the massacre of the Muslims by the Indian army was still fresh in the minds days and there was a fear in the Muslim community to come forward and put a voice for the uplitfment of Muslims When Moulana Abdul Wahed Owaisi became the president to “Mumlikat-E-Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen” party, the then govt wanted to abolish the Majlis party but Moulana Abdul Wahid Owaisi refused to do so and was seen as a person who financially supported the party when it was bankrupt and weak after the Police Action in Hyderabad. Abdul Wahid Owaisi is also credited with having “re-written” the Majlis' constitution according to the provisions in the Indian Constitution and “the realities of Muslim minority in independent India”. He fought the legal case for winning back Darussalam, the MiM headquarters. For years he conducted public meetings and Muslims who were in fear started to trickle in to attend these public meetings .These public meetings became such a success that lakhs of Muslims came from all over the state to attend them. On 2nd March 1958 in a grand public meeting Moulana Abdul Wahed Owaisi declared an amendment in the Party’s manifesto that he has changed the name of the Party to “Kul Hind Majlis – E – Ittehadul Muslimeen” in accordance with the constitution of India. After this the Central and State Governemnt arrested Moulana Abdul Wahed Owaisi on 14th September 1958 and sent him to Chanchalguda Jail. Before he was sent to jail Moulana Abdul Wahed Owaisi nominated Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi as the acting president of the “Kul Hind Majlis – E – Ittehadul Muslimeen” party. Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi on the path of earlier the president also conducted public meetings for about 11 months and carried out the working of the party. After 11 months the Government released Moulana Abdul Wahed Owaisi unconditionally. According to a former journalist, Chander Srivastava, for the first decade-and-a-half after this “reinvention”, the Majlis remained, at best, a marginal player in Hyderabad politics and even though every election saw a rise in its vote bank, it could not win more than one Assembly seat. The 1970's saw an upswing in Majlis’ political fortunes. In 1969, it won back its party headquarters, Dar-us-Salaam — a sprawling 4.5-acre compound in the heart of the New City. It also won compensation which was used to set up an ITI on the premises and a women’s degree college in Nizamabad town. In 1976, Salahuddin Owaisi again became the working president of the A.I.M.I.M after his father’s demise and was also jailed various times for his political views etc. At that time there were bye elections being conducted in the two municipal divisions. It was for the first time that A.I.M.I.M had participated in the bye elections to the two municipal divisions and it won both the seats. In the Election to the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation the A.I.M.I.M also won the majority of seats. After securing the majority in the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation the Government has merged the Secunderabad and Hyderabad Municipalities, due to which the A.I.M.I.M instead of being the ruling party emerged as the first opposition party. At that time Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi was the floor leader of A.I.M.I.M party in the Corporation. In the year 1962 – 84 Janab Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi was continuously elected as the M.L.A from A.I.M.I.M party. This started an important phase in the history of the Majlis as it continued expanding its educational institutions, Hospitals, Banks, including the first Muslim minority Engineering College and Medical College. Courses in MBA, MCA, Nursing, Pharmacy and other professional degrees followed now by a daily newspaper known as Etemaad Daily. The 1970s were also a watershed in Majlis’ history as after a long period of 31 years, Hyderabad witnessed large-scale communal rioting in 1979. The Majlis came to the forefront in “defending” Muslim life and property Majlis workers could be seen at these moments defending the properties of Muslims in the wake of riots and these workers were very hard even for the police to control them ,even now it is a known fact that there are nearly 4500 units of strong members who only act if there is a serious threat to the Owaisi family and these members are under the direct orders of the Owaisi family which leads the Majlis party leaving aside thousands of workers and informers throughout the State and even outside the country far away till America and the Gulf countries.Salahuddin Owaisi, also known as “Salar-e-Millat” (commander of the community), has repeatedly alleged in his speeches that the Indian state has “abandoned” the Muslims to their fate. Therefore, “Muslims should stand on their own feet, rather than look to the State for help'’.He argues. This policy has been an unambiguous success in leveraging the Majlis today to its position of being practically the “sole spokesman” of the Muslims in Hyderabad and its environs. Voting figures show this clearly. From 58,000 votes in the 1962 Lok Sabha elections for the Hyderabad seat, Majlis votes rose to 1, 12,000 in 1980. The clear articulation of this “stand on one’s feet” policy in education and `protection’ during riots doubled its vote-share by 1984. Salahuddin Owaisi won the seat for the first time, polling 2.22 lakh votes. This vote-share doubled in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections to over four lakhs.The Majlis has since continued its hold on the Hyderabad seat winning about five-and-a-half lakh votes each time. Despite remarkable economic prosperity and negligible communal violence in the past decade, the hold of the Majlis on the Muslims of Hyderabad remains, despite minor dents. And despite widespread allegations of Majlis leaders having “made money”, most ordinary Muslims continue to support them because, as one bank executive put it “they represent our issues clearly and unambiguously'’. An old Historian Bakhtiyar khan says the Owaisi family was a rich family even before entering Politics and he says he had seen the late Majlis leader Abdul Wahed Owaisi in an American Buick car at a time when rarely cars were seen on Hyderabad Roads and the family had strong relations with the erstwhile Nizams of Hyderabad and the Paighs even now the family is considered to be one of the richest families in Hyderabad. A university teacher says that the Majlis helped Muslims live with dignity and security at a time when they were under attack and even took the fear out of them after the Police action and adds that he has seen Majlis leaders in the front at times confronting with the Police and the Govt. Asaduddin Owaisi, the articulate UK educated barrister from Lincolns Inn College son of Salahuddin Owaisi and Former leader of the Majlis’ Legislature party and now an MP himself who has traveled across the globe meeting world leaders and organizations and even in war zones compares the Majlis to the Black Power movement of America. The Majlis that emerged after 1957 is a completely different entity from its pre-independence edition; he says adding that comparisons with that bloody past are “misleading and mischievous”. “That Majlis was fighting for state power, while we have no such ambitions or illusions”. He stoutly defends the need for “an independent political voice” for the minorities, which is willing to defend them and project their issues “firmly”. “How can an independent articulation of minority interests and aspirations be termed communal,” he asks and contests any definition of democracy which questions the loyalty of minorities if they assert their independent political identity. “We are a threat not only to the BJP and Hindu communalism, but also to Muslim extremism,” Asaduddin claims. “By providing a legitimate political vent for Muslims to voice their aspirations and fears, we are preventing the rise of political extremism and religious obscurantism when the community is under unprecedented attack from Hindu communalists and the state'’. He can be seen in his speeches speaking against terrorism in the Country and says if the time arises Majlis will stand side by side in defending the Nation and Recently Majlis e ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi has Visited Lebanon after the war with Israel and met the leaders of the resistance group Hezbollah and has even visited Muslims throughout India especially in Gujarat, Bombay, Malegaon and represented there issues to the Government of India and in Parliament. Asaduddin Owaisis younger brother Akbaruddin Owaisi is now the Leader of the Majlis' Legislature Party in the State Assembly and is also considered to be a good orator and Crowd Puller for the Party.

Bajrang Dal behind Blasts in Malegaon : Owaisi

Majlis MP Asaduddin Owaisi in Malegaon speaking to Local Residents .

HYDERABAD: Alleging that Bajrang Dal may be involved in the recent Malegaon blasts, the All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) on Tuesday demanded a CBI probe into the incident to 'instil confidence among Muslims'. Asaduddin Owaisi, MP, who toured the blast sites at Malegaon, said that the modus operandi adopted for planting bombs was meticulously planned. "It appears to be the handiwork of Bajrang Dal if we go by the Nanded Bajrang Dal office blast". Citing the blast at Nanded Bajrang Dal office in March, Owaisi claimed that police investigation had revealed that the bombs were being made in the Bajrang Dal office when they accidentally exploded, claiming three lives. Police had also recovered some 'Muslim caps, burqas and wigs alongwith diairies which mentioned the places to be attacked', he claimed. "Only CBI enquiry will expose the culprits involved in this blast. This has become a practice for police to divert the attention towards Muslim fundamentalists while 'Hindu extremists' exist in Sangh Parivar, whose activities should also be monitored," he said. Owasi alleged that police were using terms like 'Islamic terrorism or Muslim extremists'. He said the acts of terror by a few individuals, could not make the whole community terrorists. "This is a calculated move to divide the communities. Unless we check these elements, secularism will be at stake." Owaisi also demanded ex-gratia for the families of the deceased on par with the Mumbai bomb blast victims.

Andhra Pradesh Muslim Quota Issue Majlis e ittehadul Muslimeen Party Statement

MiM Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi giving Speech in Nizamabad.


Statement by Akbaruddin Owaisi, MIM floor leader in the Assembly

One of the major promises made by the Congress on the eve of 2004 Assembly elections was to provide five percent reservations for Muslims in educational institutions and government jobs by including the community in the list of Backward Classes. But, we are sorry to say that the Congress, after coming to power in the state, has been unable to fulfil this promise even though it made attempts twice in the last two years to provide the reservations to Muslims.

This situation has arisen because the Andhra Pradesh High Court has struck down the five percent reservations for Muslims twice--in 2004 and 2005—on various grounds but the government does not appear to have done proper homework for implementing the quota for Muslims. On the other hand, the Congress government left enough lacunae in the GO issued

When the State Government filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the quashing of Muslim reservations, the apex court declined to stay the judgement of the High Court. Again, when the state government approached the Supreme Court in July this year seeking its directions to reserve five percent seats in educational institutions for Muslims for the academic year 2006-07, the apex court rejected the application on the grounds that if the application was entertained, it would virtually amount to staying the AP High Court judgement quashing the quota for Muslims.

Even as the five-member Constitutional bench of the Supreme Court is to be constituted to go into the State government’s appeal on the issue of Muslim reservations, the Congress-led UPA government has virtually adopted a contrary stance on the issue. The Central government, in an affidavit in the Supreme Court in response to a PIL challenging OBC quotas, categorically denied reports that it was contemplating a separate quota for Muslims.

“A policy allowing for reservation based on religion would violate the fundamental right to equality enshrined in the Constitution. As a result, reservation for Muslims alone would be squarely discriminatory,” the affidavit pointed out.

The affidavit further stated that “a reservation policy intended to benefit any one religious community would necessarily fall foul of the constitutional prohibition on discrimination based solely on religion. The existing and any prospective reservation policy would have to make provision for backward castes/classes regardless of their religious considerations. Only such a policy will be in tune with the secular credentials of the country.”

Moreover, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs Abdul Rahman Antulay has gone on record that there is no proposal before the Central government to provide reservations for Muslims on the lines of the OBCs. Union Minister for Human Resource Development Arjun Singh also ruled out any reservations for Muslims. All these statements indicate the thinking of the UPA government against providing reservations to Muslims.

Faced with this clear-cut stand of UPA on Muslim quota, the Chief Minister has been trying hard to wriggle out of the embarrassment. He claims that the Central government’s opposition to reservation on religious basis would not impact the state
government’s policy. He insists that the state’s decision has nothing to do with religion since the government included Muslims in the list of backward classes on the basis of their socio-economic and educational backwardness.

The fact remains that the Congress government in the state could not effectively argue the case in the AP High Court, which struck down the reservations for Muslims twice. Even in the Supreme Court, the state government could not put forth sound arguments for stay of the AP High court judgement. This only shows the casual and ineffective manner in which the state government is fighting the legal battles over the issue.

Despite the Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy’s assertions that the Congress is committed to provide reservations to Muslims by overcoming all the hurdles, the half-hearted actions of the government to defend the case in the courts only proves lack of sincerity and conviction on the part of the ruling party. This is the reason for successive setbacks in the courts on this issue.

Various studies and surveys have confirmed social, economic and educational backwardness of Muslims all over the country, and not merely in AP. Poorer sections of the community certainly need affirmative action on par with other sections like Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs. But the state and central governments have to find constitutional ways of helping the poorer Muslims.
Muslims in the state are wondering now what would happen to the case pending in the Supreme Court regarding five percent reservations if the UPA government’s attitude on the issue is hostile. They are questioning the sincerity of the Congress government on the issue and feel that the party has dumped them after using the community for electoral gains. It is for the Congress government in the state and UPA government at the Centre to clear the doubts on this issue.

HYDERABAD MP ASADUDDIN OWAISI IN LEBANON AND SYRIA

MiM MP Asaduddin Owaisi visiting bombed areas of Beirut city ,Lebanon


HYDERABAD LOK SABHA MP ASADUDDIN OWAISI IS THE FIRST INDIAN DIPLOMAT TO VISIT LEBANON AFTER THE WAR ACCORDING TO THE ETEMAAD URDU DAILY AND SYRIAN NEWS AGENCY MR ASADUDDIN IS ON A PRIVATE VISIT TO LEBANON AND SYRIA AND NOT REPRESENTING THE UPA GOVERNMENT OVER THERE IT IS SAID TO BE A GODWILL VISIT AND TO SHOW SUPPORT OF INDIAN MUSLIMS IN THE WAKE OF DEATH AND MASSIVE DESTRUCTION OVER THERE ACCORDING TO THE REPORTS MR OWAISI FLEW FROM DELHI TO DAMASCUAS CAPITAL OF SYRIA AND WAS WELCOMED THERE ON HIS ARRIVAL AT DAMASCUS AIRPORT BY INDIAN EMBASSY STAFF AND WHILE HIS STAY THERE FOR 3 DAYS HE VISITED HISTORIC AND ISALMIC HOLY SHRINES AND EVEN VISITED THE GRAND UMMAYD MOSQUE AND AFTER THAT HE WENT TO BEIRUT BY ROAD AND ON HIS STAY THERE HE ALONG WITH HEZBOLLAH MPS VISITED THE SOUTHEREN PART OF BEIRUT CITY WHICH WAS THE MOST BOMBED AREA IN BEIRUT WHICH WAS REPETADELY STUCK BY ISRAELI WARPLANES AND FROM THERE HE ALONG WITH VARIOUS OTHER SOCIAL AND AID ACTVISTS HE WENT TO QANA AND VISITED THE PLACE WHERE A BUILDING WAS COLLAPSED AFTER A ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE IN WHICH 57 CIVILLANNS WERE KILLED AND MR OWAISI HAS EVEN VISITED THE PORT CITY OF TYRE AN MET ITS MAYOR MR ALI MUSHARRAF THE CITY WHICH WAS DESERTED AT THE TIME OF WAR AND BINT JEBIL AN AREA IN SOUTHERN LEBANON WHICH WAS THE MAIN BATTLEFRONT BETWEEN HEZBOLLAH FIGHTERS AND ISRAELI ARMY AND IS SAID THAT THE WHOLE VILLAGES IN THAT AREA HAVE BEEN DEVASTED BY THE FIGHTING WHICH LASTED FOR 34 DAYS AND ON HIS VISIT TO BEIRUT THE HYDERABAD MP GAVE AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TO THE HEZBOLLAH RUN TV AL MANAR AND SAID THAT HE HAS CAME TO LEBANON TO SHOW HIS SOILDARTY TO THE LEBANESE PEOPLE AND SAID HOW THE INDIAN GOVT HAS RUSHED AID WORTH 10 MILLION DOLLARS TO LEABANON AS HUMANITIRAN ASSISTANCE AND HOW THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT HAS CONDEMNNED THE WAR ON LEBANON HE ALSO MET WITH MANY CIVILLANS AND OLD AGE WOMEN WHOSE SONS WERE KILLED WHILE FIGHTING THE ISRAELI ARMY MR OWAISI WILL STAY IN LEBANON AND MEET LEBABNESE MPS AND EVEN WILL VISIT INDIAN EMBASSY IN BEIRUT AND MEET INDIAN EMBASSY STAFF AND AMBASSADOR .THERE ARE SOME REPORTS SUGGESTED THAT HE MET HEZBOLLAH SOUTHERN COMMANDER HASAN HUBULLAH AND HEZBOLLAH CHAIRMAN FOR RESARCH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DR ALI FAYYAD IN UNDISCLOSED SECRET LOCATIONS AND WAS SAID TO BE SURROUNDED BY HEZBOLLAH GUNMEN WHILE COMING OUT OF THESE SECRET HIDEOUTS HE ALSO MET VARIOUS POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS AND THE LEBANESE PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MR NABIL BERRI AND WHILE COMING OUT OF LEBANESE PARLIAMENT SPEAKING TO REPORTERS MR OWAISI SAID THAT WHAT ISRAEL HAS DONE IN LEBANON BY DESTROYING ITS INFRASTRUCTURE AND KILLING PEOPLE AND ADDING LOSS TO ECONOMY WORTH BILLIONS IS AN ACT OF STATE TERRORISM AND ISAREL CANNOT FORCE LEBANESE PEOPLE OUT OF THERE LANDS AND IT CANNOT WEAKEN THE WILL OF THE LEBANESE PEOPLE TO FIGHT AGINST OCCUPATION HE ALSO ACCUSED THE WEST OF SUPPORTING ISRAEL .HE SAID PEACE CANNOT BE ACHIEVED IN THE MIDDLE EAST UNTIL ISRAEL WITHDRAWS FROM ALL OCCUPIED PALESTINAN LANDS AND IT IS SAD HE SAID THAT THE NATIONS WHO WANT TO PREACH DEMOCRACY IN THE REGION ARE NOT WILLING TO SPEAK TO THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVT OF HAMAS IN PALESTIAN AND HE ACCUSED AMERICA OF DESTROYING IRAQ AND SAID IRAQ HAS BECOME THE MOST LAWLESS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHERE EVERYDAY CIVILLANS ARE GETTING KILLED FOR NO REASON AND ANSWERING A QUESTION RAISED BY AN REPORTER ABOUT INDIA FIGHTING TERRORISM HE SAID INDIA HAS BEEN ALSO TARGETED BY TERRORISM HE ALSO SAID MANY INNOCENT CIVILLANS WERE KILLED IN BOMBAY BLASTS FOR NO REASON HE ACCUSED THE WEST FOR DOUBLE STANDARDS WHEN FIGHTING WAR ON TERRORISM .

Andhra Pradesh Politics and Majlis News

MiM Mp Asaduddin Owaisi giving Money to poor Muslim girls for Fees by MiM Educational Fund

Office Pulled Down, MIM Deputy Mayor Functions from Floor

Karimnagar: With the Congress gearing up to face the allegation by the TRS that it cheated the people of Telangana, the party leadership has suddenly found itself in another controversy. This time it is the MIM. The minority party’s leaders in the district are crying foul over the decision of the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation mayor to pull down the chamber of the deputy mayor in the corporation office. The deputy mayor — Mohammad Abbas Shami of the MIM — says that the Congress party is cheating their party too like what it did to the TRS. The Congress party could get the mayorship of the corporation only with the help of the MIM. Now, because of problems within the Congress, they are trying to embarrass the MIM and get rid of them, the deputy mayor says. According to the MIM party workers, the mayor — D Shankar of the Congress — ordered to pull down the chamber of the deputy mayor in the name of renovation. The MIM party workers are agitated as the photos of their party leaders — Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi and Asaduddin Owaisi — were thrown on the floor. As a protest, the deputy mayor has got a make-shift office erected in the corporation premises and is discharging his duties sitting on the floor. The officials of the corporation, meanwhile, say that the deputy mayor was to get a new chamber and the old one had to be pulled down. With the construction workers entering the premises in the absence of any supervisor, they had pulled down the chamber and photographs were kept on the floor. How can anybody take a decision to renovate my chamber without my approval? There is no budget that was sanctioned for the work. The corporation did not even have enough fund to even fill the potholes on the roads during the recent rains. There is no way the civic body can afford to spend money on renovation, the deputy mayor says. However, the commissioner says that the corporation w a s granted about Rs 40 lakh for the renovation of the building. We will spend about Rs 10 lakh to renovate the deputy mayor’s chamber, G Rami Reddy, commissioner of the corporation, told newsreporter. However, the Congress insiders see local MLA and sports minister M Satyanarayana Rao’s hand behind the episode. The sports minister doesn’t like the mayor. His men might be behind the episode to demoralise the mayor, insiders said. Mayor D Shankar could not be contacted for comment.

Asaduddin Owaisi on Telangana Issue in Hyderabad

MiM Mp Asaduddin Owaisi inspecting a riot hit area in Hyderabad


TRS full of lumpen ELEMENTS: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

Hyderabad: Terming the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) as a party filled with ‘lumpen elements of the RSS,’ Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi has demanded that no decision on the division of the state should be taken by the Congress or the UPA government without speaking first to the Muslim community and its representatives. “TRS leader A Narendra, who was earlier in the BJP, took part in an RSS shakha in Shamshabad after he was sworn in as a minister from TRS in the UPA ministry. In fact, he went on to describe himself as an RSS worker first and a TRS leader next,” Owaisi told TOI from New Delhi where he is attending the monsoon session of Parliament. The MP claimed that the Muslim community had got a raw deal when the state was formed in 1956. “Bidar went to Karnataka because it had Kannada speaking people. Aurangabad went to Maharashtra because it had Marathi speaking people. There is a seizable number of Muslims in both these erstwhile Nizam-ruled cities, but they were split up when the state was formed,” said Owaisi. The MP said the MIM had told the Pranab Mukherjee committee on Telangana that a second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) should be set up and the views of the Muslim community taken up before any decision is taken on the division of the state. “The Muslim community is the most backward. Look at the number of jobs they have, their literacy level. The MIM believes that the Congress should not pander to the interests of a view at the expense of the majority people of the state,” he said. On the issue of Hyderabad, Owaisi said it was linked with the division of the state and that the capital cannot go to either Telangana and Andhra and should remain a union territory. “In any case, our stance is that the views of the Muslim community should be taken and incorporated before any decision is taken on the division of the state. The issue of Hyderabad is linked to that,” he maintained.

Majlis Demands Special Package for Telangana

MiM Floor leader in assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi with party MlAs in the State Assembly
MIM seeks Rs 20,000-cr package for Telangana

Hyderabad: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi asked the state government to prevail upon the UPA government in getting a Rs 20,000-crore package each released to Telangana and Rayalaseema to reduce regional disparities accrued over the past few decades. Talking to reporters on the premises of the Assembly on Thursday, the Chandrayangutta legislator said it was high time the central government announced a special package to backward regions in the state. Citing an example, he said the extremist movement in the state always attracted youth from neglected regions due to the socio-economic disparities in the region. The movement always derived its strength from Telangana region rather than Rayalaseema, he said. The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen floor leader demanded the state government to implement GO 610 immediately in line with the six-point formula without diluting the presidential order. Taking a dig at the Telangana Rashtra Samithi for failing to live up to the state’ expectations, he criticised “the so-called champions of Telangana” for being satisfied with the land given to construct party office rather than getting statehood to Telangana. He said the MIM was closely monitoring political developments in the state and stated that their party was in favour of a united Andhra Pradesh with overall development of all regions. “But, we may change out stance depending on the developments,” he added. Akbaruddin was critical of the government’s decision to use funds received through the auction of land in Kokapet for implementing the various government schemes. He accused the government of using the auction money to fund irrigation projects in Andhra region. Majlis to weigh options Hyderabad: The Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) on Thursday said it will wait and watch developments on Telangana. Though it had opposed a separate Telangana state earlier, the MIM has decided to look into other options depending on the political scenario and come out with a clear stance in the next few days. “As a first step, the government should send back people of Coastal Andhra who are employed in Telangana by implementing GO 610. Also, announce a welfare package, including irrigation projects on a warfooting,” MIM floor leader in the Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi told TOI. MIM chief Sultan Salauddin Owaisi had convened a meeting of religious organisations and institutions at Darussalam to review the political development. The meeting was attended by all five MIM MLAs, representatives of Tameer-e-Millat, Ulama-e-Deccan, Jamia Nizamia, Amaarat Millat-e-Islamia and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind under the banner of Joint Action Committee of Muslims. “The MIM will not support the Telangana movement led by TRS,” said MIM president Salauddin Owaisi after the meeting. “Since the issue is not so simple, the party will look into various options to ensure that our stance would not go against the interests of Muslims,” he said.