MIM shouldn't dream of becoming national party: Congress leader

Karnataka Minister R Roshan Baig said that MIM should confine itself to Hyderabad

Accusing Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen of being a communal party, senior Congress leader and Karnataka Minister R Roshan Baig today advised the MIM to confine itself to Hyderabad and stop dreaming of becoming a national party.

Reminding the MIM of the lessons "taught" to it by people in Bengaluru civic polls and Bihar Assembly elections, Baig, the Karnataka Minister for Information and Infrastructure Development, said they want national-level parties and not communal parties in the country.

"...Let them (MIM) confine (themselves) to Hyderabad...As a national-level party they were dreaming. People have taught them a lesson in Bengaluru (in local city polls held in August last year)...People have also taught them a lesson in Bihar (Assembly elections). So, let them not dream about (becoming) an all India national party," Baig told reporters here.

"Your's is a communal party and we want national-level parties to be in the country and not communal parties," he said.

Asking Hyderabadis to strengthen and support Congress in the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections, Baig said, "I appeal to the citizens of Hyderabad to support Congress."

Rajya Sabha member and Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao said that MIM always "benefitted" from Congress and claimed that the developmental works were done in Hyderabad only due to his party.

The Congress earlier had a 'political understanding' with MIM in Hyderabad, though the party had decided to end the same last year.