Siasat News Editor Joins YSRCP

In a politically significant development, Amer Ali Khan, the news editor of leading Urdu daily Siasat, joined the YSR Congress Party on Thursday.

Amer Ali Khan took the decision to join the YSRCP after having an hour-long discussion with YSRCP president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy at the latter's residence at Lotus Pond. However, sources say that Jagan was in touch with Amer Ali Khan for a long time and was convincing him to join his party.

"I joined the YSRCP with the sole aim of uplifting the Muslim community in all the three regions of the state. I submitted a detailed report along with a list of demands for each region in the state, and Jagan has agreed to fulfill the demands of the Muslim community," Amer Ali Khan said after meeting Jagan.

When asked about Jagan's stand against Telangana, he said that his priority was the Muslims living in all the three regions. He said that the welfare of Muslims living in Telangana, Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra was equally important even after the formation of the new Telangana state.

Amer Ali Khan said that Muslims constitute 9.2% of the total population in Andhra Pradesh. "Their percentage in Telangana, including Hyderabad, will increase to 12.4% after bifurcation. In the Rayalaseema region, Muslims constitute 12.5% of the population. But their population is just 4.1% in coastal Andhra. The Muslim population in the residual state of Andhra Pradesh will be 6.9%. Therefore, with an increase in the population by almost 4%, the Muslim community is bound to gain in the Telangana region, but they will certainly lose in the residual state. The major losers will be the Muslims of Rayalaseema, whose percentage will be counted as 6.9% although they constituted 12.5% in their region. Therefore, the Muslims living in the Seemandhra region too cannot be ignored," he said.

"We have been friends for the last 30 years, and used to discuss politics casually. Jagan wanted some Muslim leader to steer the cause of the community, instead of merely giving suggestions. I accepted his offer to join the party on the condition that it would take serious steps for the development of minorities in all the regions," Amer Ali Khan said.

When asked about Jagan's relations with MIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi, Amer Ali Khan said that they might share a friendship but that his decision to join the party was based on the agenda for the Muslim community.

Replying to a question, Amer Ali Khan did not rule out himself contesting the next elections, although he said that a decision in that regard would be taken at an "appropriate time".

It may be mentioned here that Amer Ali Khan is the son of Zahid Ali Khan, Siasat's editor-in-chief, who is also a senior TDP leader. Zahid Ali Khan had earlier contested against the MIM's Asaduddin Owaisi in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

(INN)