Baring Adilabad, Bodhan, Tahreek Muslim Shabban to support Congress across Telangana

Hyderabad: Congress has found an unexpected ally in Tahreek Muslim Shabban (TMS), a group that wields considerable influence within the Muslim community.

Recognizing the potential for change under the leadership of a reinvigorated Congress, the TMS has decided to throw its weight behind the grand old party. TMS has resolved to extend support to the Congress all over Telangana except the Adilabad constituency where the party has fielded a BJP turncoat. In Bodhan too the party would not support the Congress but the BRS Muslim candidate, Mohammed Shakeel Aamir. In respect of some Hyderabad constituencies like Charminar, Chandrayangutta, Bahadurpura, Yakutpura, and Goshamahal the TMC has not taken a decision yet on whom to support, said its President, Muhammed Mushtaq Malik.

He told presspersons here on Tuesday that while supporting the Congress his organization had kept the interests of the Muslim community in mind. In the case of the Goshamahal constituency from where the BJP’s Raja Singh is seeking election, the TMS would support the party that was in a position to defeat him. “The blasphemous candidate, who spews hatred against Islam and its Prophet, has to be trounced at all cost. We have prepared a strategy for this,” Malik said.

He said his organization had put forth a 13-point charter of demand before all the political parties much before the announcement of the election. When Congress stalwarts like Manik Rao Thakre, (in charge of Telangana), AICC secretary, Mansoor Ali Khan and. Das Munshi, members, the Congress Working Committee accepted its demands the TMC decided to sail with the party. Some of these demands are the restoration of the fee reimbursement scheme, allotment of Rs. 500 crore budget to the Minority Finance Corporation for the economic development of Muslims, protection of endowment properties, the establishment of Waqf Commissionarate with judicial powers, announcement of a sub plan for Muslims besides 8 percent reservations in education and jobs for the community.

To a question, Malik said the present Congress was a different Congress from the one associated with the controversial Babri Masjid demolition. He spoke passionately about the party's transformation under the dynamic leadership of Rahul Gandhi. The Congress was now committed to confronting the RSS and fighting its ideology. “There is a need to resist divisive forces and build a more inclusive society”, he said.

Malik criticized the BRS government for not doing anything for the community during the last nine years. The party had failed to appoint a single Muslim Vice-Chancellor or a Muslim member to the State Public Service Commission. He appealed to Muslims to ensure 80 percent polling and vote unitedly in favor of the Congress.