Tdp Minister Quits Over Bjp Support

Andhra Pradesh major industries minister Basheeruddin Babukhan, the lone Muslim member of the Chandrababu Naidu ministry, yesterday resigned from the cabinet in protest against the Telugu Desam Party voting in favour of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Leader of the TDP minority cell Zafar Javeed also quit the party in protest against the partys move.

Since, the TDP has cast its vote of confidence in favour of the fascist, communal BJP-led government at the Centre, I regretfully announce my resignation from the council of ministers, the industries minister said.

Babukhan said he would submit his resignation to the chief minister later and asserted that he would not reconsider his decision.

 

Addressing newsmen, Babu khan said he was speaking on behalf of the Muslim community which was hurt by the decision of Telugu Desam to vote in favour of a communal party.

I have been continuously interacting with Muslims of all sections who have condemned this act of the TDP and expressed their anguish and disbelief. I would, however, continue to be in the TDP and try to influence the leadership in whatever means I could to keep the party away from communal BJP.

The TDP decision to support the BJP is fast resulting in polarisation in the state and it is now almost certain that the two Left parties, the CPM and the CPI, who have been piggyriding on the Naidu government for their survival, will now change sides to their erstwhile enemy, the Congress.

In fact, the Congress has announced that it would take the initiative of inviting the Communist parties to forge an alliance with it to fight the communal and fascist grouping of the BJP and the Telugu Desam.

In taking the decision to tilt towards the BJP, Naidu obviously weighed the fallout on his party, especially from the minorities who form about 12 per cent of the electorate in AP and have a tilting effect in Telangana and some parts of Rayalaseema.