MIM Accpets Centre's Decision On Telangana: Akbaruddin Owais

MIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that his party has decided to accept the decision taken by the Congress-led UPA government to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and carve out Telangana as a separate state.

Addressing a press conference at the MIM's headquarters, Darulsalaam, on Wednesday, Asaduddin Owaisi said that the although his party accepts the decision, it fears that communal forces would gain strength in Telangana state.

He said that while the TRS, which led the statehood agitation, was merging with the Congress, the Telugu Desam Party is too weak in Telangana. "In the changed political scenario, several communal forces are likely to try to gain control through the politics of hatred," he said.

However, he said, the MIM would continue to counter such forces in both the states and also demanded that the new government should come out with a strong policy to control communal forces.

Asaduddin Owaisi demanded that Urdu, along with Telugu, be made the first language in Telangana state, and its (Urdu's) status as a second language should be continued in Andhra. He also demanded that the Pranahita Chevella project be declared a "National" project as has been done with the Polavaram project.

Stating that Muslims understand the pain of division, he demanded that steps be taken to ensure the protection of lives and properties of those who are settled in Hyderabad and in its surrounding areas.

The MIM president said that the Hyderabad resources should be spent on Hyderabad only. He also said that there will be several new challenges to face during and after the creation of Telangana. (INN)