As clamour for official celebration of Telangana Liberation Day on September 17 grows, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) has come out strongly against the move.
The party sees a sinister design in the demand and feels the whole thing is aimed at furtherance of the Sangh Parivar agenda. “It will only promote the hate ideology towards Muslims and nothing else,” said Majlis president Asaduddin Owaisi.
No such demand was made between 1948 and 1956 when the Hyderabad State was integrated with the Indian Union and Andhra Pradesh was formed. It gained momentum only after the Shiv Sena came to power in Maharashtra and the BJP in Karnataka.
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Conceding such demands would not strengthen secular polity, but rather give handle to communal elements, “It will open up old wounds,” Mr. Owaisi feared. If September 17 is officially celebrated, then there ought to be a debate on the Pandit Sunderlal Committee report which stated that 1.5 lakh Muslims were butchered during the police action. “Any celebration will only send the message that this day deliverance was achieved from Muslims,” the Hyderabad MP said.
Stating that he was proud to be an Indian, Mr. Owaisi said the only day to celebrate was August 15 when the country became independent. The BJP was raking up the issue time and again only with a view to strengthen its base in the State. Unfortunately, other political parties were also trying to promote its hate agenda by supporting the demand. The Majlis leader also took strong exception to the State government's proposal to build a temple in the Raj Bhavan premises. The institution of Governor is a secular position and it should remain as such. “Tomorrow anyone can become a Governor. Will the government construct a mosque, church and gurdwara too?” Mr. Owaisi asked.