In an indirect attack on the Seemandhra Congress leaders, particularly Union tourism minister K Chiranjeevi, who wanted Hyderabad be made a Union Territory post-bifurcation, MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi warned the Union government against giving Hyderabad a UT status other than an ‘unconditional capital’ of Telangana state.
Addressing a late night meeting at Muradnagar here on Sunday, Asaduddin slammed Chiranjeevi for asking the Centre to make Hyderabad as Union Territory. He said the Union minister’s claim that Hyderabad was developed by the people of Seemandhra region is false and far from truth.
“Those who are claiming that Hyderabad was developed by Seemandhra people do not have the knowledge of Hyderabad’s history. They are not aware that Hyderabad had its own power plant, railways, telephone exchange and other modern facilities much before other states in the country had,’’ Asad claimed.
The capitalists and MNCs, who came to Hyderabad worked for their selfish gains and not for the welfare of the common man. So claiming that the city was developed by them is not correct, he remarked.
Coming down heavily on Telangana Congress leaders for agreeing to the idea of a common capital for 10 years and handing over the law and order and municipal administration of Hyderabad to the Centre, Owaisi said that these leaders had no stake and no right to talk on Hyderabad.
“They are ready to accept anything to become the chief minister of Telangana. I fail to understand what kind of vision these leaders have,” he said.
There is no question of allowing Central control over law and order, municipal administration, revenue and land administration, higher education and medicare, he said.
He also criticised TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu for not taking a clear stand on state bifurcation.He rejected the argument that the Centre should take over the law and order of the city to safeguard the interest and security of Seemandhra people.
“In that case, the Centre should also take over the law and order of Telangana districts like Nalgonda, Raanga Reddy, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Khammam as a large number of Seemandhra people live there too,” Owaisi said.
‘’We are against state bifurcation but since the Centre has decided to divide the state the party wants Telangana state with Hyderabad as capital,’’ he said and added that the party will not compromise on Hyderabad and will oppose the move of the government to award Union Territory status to it.
He warned that if the Centre tries to make Hyderabad a UT then the party will go to the people.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express