By IANS,
Hyderabad : Stating that its stand on the Telangana issue remains unchanged, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Sunday ruled out supporting the ongoing “people’s strike” in the region for a separate state.
MIM president and MP Asaduddin Owaisi said his party would never support strike as it was only causing misery to the poor. “We can never support strike. How will the poor survive,” he asked while addressing a press conference here.
Groups fighting for a separate Telangana state have long been demanding that MIM, a strong political force in Hyderabad, come out openly in support of the movement.
Voicing his apprehension that the Telangana movement could take a violent turn, Owaisi urged the central government to clear the uncertainty by taking a decision.
“No doubt it is a sensitive and difficult issue but the centre should spell out what is its thinking on the issue.
“Dividing a state is not like cutting the cake at a birthday party,” he remarked while advising Telangana leaders to show seriousness and desist from setting deadlines.
“The developments of last two-three days indicate that it (agitation) is heading towards violence. Youths are frustrated. I can’t say where this will reach a flashpoint,” he said.
He advised Congress leaders in Delhi not to ridicule the strike by stating that it has not affected the normal life.
“The normal life has definitely been affected. The poor are the worst hit. There are three to four hour power cuts daily in Hyderabad. The farmers of Telangana are worried,” he said, adding that Andhra and Rayalaseema regions were not affected.
He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be the biggest beneficiary if a separate Telangana state is formed. “Mark my words. It is the BJP who is going to be benefited in separate Telangana state. No other party will gain,” he said.
“Why should I support it out of fear,” the MP shot back when asked about apprehensions that Muslims might be alienated in the separate state for not participating in the movement. “Nobody can deny me my right. India is a democratic country. There is a constitution and rule of law,” he said.
Owaisi refused to reiterate his party’s stand on Telangana, saying he was tired of it and blamed media for distorting it. He, however, said the MIM stands by every word stated before Srikrishna Committee, which looked into the Telangana issue.
MIM had stated before the panel that if division of Andhra Pradesh becomes inevitable, Telangana and Rayalaseema regions should be merged to form Rayala-Telangana state with Hyderabad as its capital. It also opposed the idea of making Hyderabad a union territory.