KCR Had Prior Knowledge Of Temple, Mosque Demolition: Shabbir Ali

Former minister and ex-Leader Of Opposition in the Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir, ex-MP Konda Vishveshwara Reddy and other leaders addressed a press conference at the former's residence in Jubilee Hills on Friday on the Secretariat demolition.

Shabbir Ali said that the statement issued by the Chief Minister on the issue was quite disappointing.

He said that the citizens of Telangana were all deeply hurt due to the demolition of the mosques and a temple in the Secretariat.

He said that it was strange that religious structures were illegally demolished in the Secretariat on the orders of the Chief Minister. The development was unprecedented and would be remembered in history for all the wrong reasons, he lamented.

He alleged that KCR was treating the assets of Telangana as his personal "jagir" and ransacking the state's heritage and culture.

He also condemned the tweet of MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi welcoming the announcement of KCR to re-construct the mosque and the temple. He said that the Chief Minister did not promise that the mosque would be re-constructed at the same place, and pointed out that the Ram Janmbhoomi - Babri Masjid dispute pertained to the specific place where a demolished religious structure would be constructed. One of the longest legal battles was fought for several years as Muslims were not willing to accept an alternate place, but here Asaduddin Owaisi had agreed to the shifting of a mosque which had no dispute around it whatsoever.

Shabbir Ali claimed that the demolition of the mosque and the temple had been carried out with the full knowledge of the Chief Minister. He said that even Owaisi was aware that the mosque was being razed, and for the same reason went around hospitals on Thursday to divert the people's attention.