MIM to fight for rights of Muslims in both states

The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Wednesday said it will have its presence in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states and will fight for protecting the rights of Muslims.

MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who had opposed the division of Andhra Pradesh, demanded that the governments in both the states continue four percent reservation being currently provided to Muslims in jobs and education.

The MP from Hyderabad also sought first language status to Urdu along with Telugu in Telangana and hoped that Urdu will enjoy the status of second official language in the other state.

Owaisi wanted both the states to continue the increase in the budget for the welfare of the minorities.

In his first reaction to the Congress party's decision to carve out a separate Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh, the MIM chief said while the decision was taken for political mileage, the biggest beneficiary will be the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The MP said the Congress would not get electoral benefit as it can't discount 35 percent of the people (from Seemandhra) who have made Telangana their home.

He predicted that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) would lose its political base by merging with the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) would also get weakened.

"The MIM always stood up against the BJP's policies and we will stand against them," he said.

He demanded amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code to make use of the term "settlers" an offence. He said this was a derogatory term used for people who migrated to Hyderabad and other places from Seemandhra.

Owaisi said the Congress had opened a can of worms by conceding the demand for Telangana state. "Demands for formation of smaller states will come from several parts of the country," he said.

The MIM, a key political force in Hyderabad, has one MP and seven legislators in the present state assembly.