We Have Emerged Alternative To MIM: Congress

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Party public meeting at Khilwat grounds on Friday night was a grand success proving that the Congress had emerged as an alternative to the MIM in the Old City of Hyderabad.

The TPCC said that Khilwat was the first massive public meeting organised by the Congress in the Old City in recent times.

"Let me admit that we never thought of venturing into these areas due to our strategic alliance with the MIM. We had left these areas for the MIM in the past on the assumption that it would cater to needs of the people more independently. But later we realized that instead of serving those people, the MIM leaders were exploiting the poor Muslims for personal gains. Shockingly, they aligned with the BJP and other communal forces while targeting the Congress which nourished them at all stages. Their communal approach tarnished the image of the people of the Old City," he said.

The TPCC chief said that the Congress decided to enter the Old City independently after conducting a thorough survey of the needs and aspirations of the people living there. It was not a mere political approach aimed at winning a few seats in the GHMC elections, he asserted.

"We collected feedback from all the areas of the Old City on the living conditions and difficulties being faced by the people. We were shocked to learn that several areas in the Old City lacked access to basic civic amenities and other needs like quality education and health. Thousands of local residents joined Friday's road show held in Chandrayanagutta, Falaknuma, Engine Bowli, Shahalibanda, Aliabad, Lal Darwaza and Lad Bazar, and they patiently heard our speeches at Khilwat grounds," he said.

Reddy said that his Party would further strengthen its base in the Old City, and continue its awareness campaign even after the GHMC elections.