MIM Agrees To Support T-Bill With 31 Amendments

MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi announced his party's support to Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, but with 31 amendments.

Continuing the debate on the Telangana Bill in the State Legislative Assembly, Akbar Owaisi said that Hyderabad should be the common capital of both the states but for not more than 2 years.

Further, he added that there should be no common Governor for both the state.

He also demanded the formation of separate High Courts for Telangana and the residual states of Andhra Pradesh.

He said that only the Khairatabad mandal should be earmarked as the common capital and not the entire HMDA limits.

"The Governor should have no control over the law and order. Else, the status of the Telangana Chief Minister would be like the Raj Pramukh," he pointed out.

The MIM leader said that the reservation for Muslims in jobs and education should continue in both the states after bifurcation.

He proposed that a separate sub-plan be introduced for minorities on the lines of SC, ST sub-plan.

He also demanded a special package of Rs. 5,000 crore for the old city of Hyderabad.

He also wanted separate power projects for Hyderabad Metropolitan area.

Construction of "modern airports" at Warangal, Nizamabad and Khammam was another demand made by the MIM leader.

Akbar Owaisi feared that communal forces would get stronger in Telangana. He listed out the incidents of communal violence that occurred in Telangana and said that the communal forces have been trying to strengthen themselves in the region since a long time and that they would try to fill the political vacuum that is likely to be created after bifurcation.

He said there are 42% Muslims in Hyderabad and 33% in the Greater Hyderabad region and that steps should be taken to ensure their safety across the new state of Telangana.

He said that the views of Muslims must also be considered if Telangana is to be formed.

Akbaruddin also feared that any alliance between TDP and BJP will strengthen communal forces.

The MIM leader also took a jibe at CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy for his "last ball" remark and said that players win matches and not the commentators.

"Players win matches and players are there (in Delhi)", he remarked.

Akbar criticised TDP for trying to forge an alliance with the BJP and also demanded that the YSRCP clarify its stand on its ties with the saffron party. (INN)