MIM Seeks Rs 20,000 Crore Package for Telangana

Majlis ittehadul Muslimeen President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi with Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Darussalam MiM Headquarters on Dec 30 1978.


MIM seeks Rs 20,000-cr package for Telangana


Hyderabad: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi asked the state government to prevail upon the UPA government in getting a Rs 20,000-crore package each released to Telangana and Rayalaseema to reduce regional disparities accrued over the past few decades. Talking to reporters on the premises of the Assembly on Thursday, the Chandrayangutta legislator said it was high time the central government announced a special package to backward regions in the state. Citing an example, he said the extremist movement in the state always attracted youth from neglected regions due to the socio-economic disparities in the region. The movement always derived its strength from Telangana region rather than Rayalaseema, he said. The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen floor leader demanded the state government to implement GO 610 immediately in line with the six-point formula without diluting the presidential order. Taking a dig at the Telangana Rashtra Samithi for failing to live up to the state’ expectations, he criticised “the so-called champions of Telangana” for being satisfied with the land given to construct party office rather than getting statehood to Telangana. He said the MIM was closely monitoring political developments in the state and stated that their party was in favour of a united Andhra Pradesh with overall development of all regions. “But, we may change out stance depending on the developments,” he added. Akbaruddin was critical of the government’s decision to use funds received through the auction of land in Kokapet for implementing the various government schemes. He accused the government of using the auction money to fund irrigation projects in Andhra region. Majlis to weigh options Hyderabad: The Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) on Thursday said it will wait and watch developments on Telangana. Though it had opposed a separate Telangana state earlier, the MIM has decided to look into other options depending on the political scenario and come out with a clear stance in the next few days. “As a first step, the government should send back people of Coastal Andhra who are employed in Telangana by implementing GO 610. Also, announce a welfare package, including irrigation projects on a warfooting,” MIM floor leader in the Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi told TOI. MIM chief Sultan Salauddin Owaisi had convened a meeting of religious organisations and institutions at Darussalam to review the political development. The meeting was attended by all five MIM MLAs, representatives of Tameer-e-Millat, Ulama-e-Deccan, Jamia Nizamia, Amaarat Millat-e-Islamia and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind under the banner of Joint Action Committee of Muslims. “The MIM will not support the Telangana movement led by TRS,” said MIM president Salauddin Owaisi after the meeting. “Since the issue is not so simple, the party will look into various options to ensure that our stance would not go against the interests of Muslims,” he said.