The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has demanded that the Central Government incorporate necessary safeguards for minorities, Muslims in particular, in the two States after bifurcation.
MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi who continued the debate on the reorganisation Bill on Tuesday lamented that no political party was speaking about the concerns of the minority communities in the bifurcation process. The views of Muslims were not ascertained during the merger of Hyderabad State with Andhra resulting in severe hardships to the community in the form of loss in education, employment and other sections.
Mr. Owaisi expressed apprehensions on the scope for growth of Sangh Parivar post bifurcation and said this was evident from the active role played by the Sangh organisations including the BJP. “The MIM has opposed bifurcation. Since a consensus remained elusive, the party accepted the decision imposed on the people as a fait accompli,” he said.
He dismissed the claims that AP was the first linguistic State claiming several factors other than the linguistic basis influenced the formation of the State. He expressed his strong opposition to the common capital and powers proposed to be vested in the institution of Governor.
Given the proposals in the draft Bill, there was every scope for the Governor becoming a super power in the two States. “Imagine the plight of the Muslims if communal parties come to power at the Centre and depute a person with same ideology as Governor,” he said. Similar was the case with the police officials who could turn “super CMs” as they would act at the behest of the Governor.
“When the Centre had decided to bifurcate the State, let it give Telangana the same status as the remaining States,” he said opposing the proposal for a common high court as well. The MIM would oppose any move to give Hyderabad the status of a union territory or that of centrally administered area.
