By TwoCircles Staff Reporter,
Hyderabad: Amir Ali Khan, News Editor of Siasat Urdu Daily has created a new commotion in political circles of Hyderabad by joining in YSR Congress party.
Mr. Amir Ali Khan Thursday evening met YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy at his residence Lotus Pound and formally joined the emerging regional giant.
Jaganmohan Reddy felicitating Amir Ali Khan
Son of late former Chief Minister of Andhra Pardesh Y S Rajshekar Reddy, Jaganmohan Reddy parted way with the Congress after differences over party state leadership in 2011. In just three years party gained 17 assembly and 2 Lok Sabha seats in different by-elections and is considered as an emerging force especially in Seema Andhra region.
Speaking with media outside Jaganmohan’s residence Amir Ali Khan said his sole aim of joining YSR Congress party is to protect the interests of Muslims in all three regions of the state.
Siasat News Editor claimed that Jagan his schoolmate was in constant discussion with him over politics and frequently persuaded him to join his party. Amir Ali Khan described YSR Congress as the only secular party in the state, he said a detail report on situation and demands of Muslims from all three regions has been submitted to Jagan and he agreed on all the demands. He however Mr. Khan didn’t disclose any of the accepted demands but quoted statistics to claim that Muslims in Seema Andhra will suffer after state bifurcation.
Amir Ali Khan’s family has always been seen in Telangana circles as protagonist of separate statehood movement, he had a hard time explaining his stand while joining party whose opposition to Telangana is stern to call the least. He reiterated on several counts that his new political alignment was based on belief to uplift Muslim community. He even added that YSR Congress will not be a pariah in Telangana, “If AAP a Delhi base party can plan to contest from Hyderabad then what could be a hindrance for a native state party,” he explained.
Siasat’s arch rival Majlis-e-Itehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi whose also a classmate of Jagan share a cordial relations with him, in fact Mr. Owaisi played a mediator role in presidential elections to ensure YSR Congress MLA’s vote for Parnab Mukherjee. Mr. Amir said his opponent Mr. Owaisi’s good friendship with Jagan will not matter in the party affairs. In the same breath he also made it clear that his newspaper line will remain independent as news policy is a different issue altogether.
Amir Ali Khan’s father Siasat editor Zahid Ali Khan has contested Lok Sabha elections from Hyderabad in 2009 on Telugu Desam Party ticket but got defeated by Asaduddin Owaisi. Currently he is TDP’S polit bureau member and is continuously threatening TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu of resignation if party forming an alliance with BJP. While his uncle Siasat Managing Editor Zaheer Ali Khan has close relations with Telangana Rashtriya Samithi and many pro Telangana NGO’s.
Amir Ali Khan didn’t rule out contesting in the coming state and parliamentary elections, he said decision will be made in this regard on the right time. After an apparent bifurcation of the state, parliamentary and state elections will happen in concert. He hopes to perk up YSR Congress in Telangana region which is seen by natives as adversary to their cause, by creating a support base among minorities.