About 20 pro-Telangana Muslim organisations held a dharna at Indira Park demanding the Centre to restore the Telangana state that was existing before November 1, 1956. They decided to organise a ‘Chalo Delhi’ march soon and hold a Maha Dharna at Jantar Mantar to build pressure on the Centre for restoration of the erstwhile Telangana.
Zahed Ali Khan, Editor of Siasat who was the chief guest, called upon the Muslims to unite and actively participate in the struggle for a separate Telangana. Khan said that the progress of the Muslims would be possible only in a separate T state.
The present situation in the region was not beneficial for the community and that they were the worst sufferers socially, economically and educationally. Besides, the Urdu language had been ignored and Wakf land had been grabbed, he lamented.
Telangana JAC convenor Prof Kodandaram urged the Muslims of the region to take part in the statehood movement aggressively. He found fault with the claims of the Srikrishna Committee that Muslims were not in favor of bifurcation of the state.
Telangana Praja Front president Balladeer Gaddar urged Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi to lead the Telangana Movement. He said it was a misconception that Telangana state would not be favorable for the Muslims.
Women’s rights activist Ratnamala warned the MIM president that his party would be branded as betrayer if it did not support the cause of statehood.
“Muslims in the region are fully supporting the Telangana Movement except for a couple of political parties like MIM,” she said urging the Muslims not to get misled that Telangana state would not be in favor of them.
Minorities Rights Protection Committee president Prof,. Mohammed Ansari said that it was a conspiracy of Sardar Patel to merge Telangana with Andhra only to weaken the Muslims socially, economically and politically.
Telangana People’s Forum general secretary Vali-ur-Rahman said Muslims were aggressively taking part in the movement and they would continue to participate until state was bifurcated. [HANS India]