MiM MP Asaduddin Owaisi Giving Speech in Hyderabad

All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen Party President & MP Asaduddin Owaisi Giving Speech in Salar e Millat Condolence Meeting in Khilawat Ground in Hyderabad

Articles on MiM Ex President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi (Salar e Millat)

Lakhs bid tearful adieu to MIM President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi (Salar e Millat)

Praja Rajyam Party President Actor Chiranjeevi with AIMIM President & MP Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi.

Second Pic Lakhs of People at the Funeral Procession of the Late AIMIM President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi (Salar e Millat) in Hyderabad.

Lakhs bid tearful adieu to AIMIM President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi (Salar E Millat) .

Hyderabad: Senior Muslim leader, veteran Parliamentarian and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi (Salar e Millat) was bid a tearful adieu by lakhs of his supporters on Tuesday when he was laid to rest at the Dargah Agha Dawood in Hyderabad.

The Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy led his cabinet colleagues in paying respect to 76 year old Mr. Owaisi, who expired on Monday after prolonged illness. Dr. Reddy, who cut short his visit to Delhi and returned Hyderabad today to attend the funeral, described Mr. Owaisi's death as a big loss to the state. "He was a very experienced politician and a man of masses who always fought for the welfare of the people", he said.

Politicians cutting across the party lines converged at the Darussalam, the headquarters of MIM to bid farewell to the leader who had dominated the politics of Hyderabad for almost fifty years. The AICC general secretary Veerappa Moily laid the wreath on behalf of the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. He conveyed the condolence message to Asaduddin Owaisi, MIM's MP from Hyderabad and the new president of MIM.

Mufti Khaleel Ahmad, the head of Jamia Nizamia led the Namaz-e-Janaza, attended by more than lakh of mourners. Later he was laid to rest with full state honors.

Body of Salahuddin Owaisi was brought from his residence to MIM headquarters in a massive procession of thousands of supporters who were raising slogans of "Allah-o-Akbar" (God is Great). Owaisi's three sons Asaduddin Owaisi, MP, Akbaruddin Owaisi, MLA, and Burhanuddin Owaisi Chief Editor Etemaad Urdu Daily were among the pall bearers.

Such was the surge of the people to have the last glimpse of "Salar" as Owaisi was popularly known that the police had a very tough time in holding them back. Many old timers and personal acquaintances of Owaisi broke down.

The United State Consul General in Hyderabad Cornelis M Keur and the Iranian Consul General were among the dignitaries who attended the funeral. Earlier in the day the state director general of police SSP Yadav and Hyderabad police commissioner B Prasad Rao laid wreath on the body at Owaisi's residence and paid their respects.

Speaker K R Suresh Reddy, state Congress president D Srinivas, the state Home Minister K Jana Reddy, the secretaries of CPIM and CPI BV Raghavulu and K Narayana, Nava Telangana Praja Party president T Devender Goud, senior leaders of Telugu Desam and K Chandrashekar Rao of Telangana Rashtra Samiti were among those who attended the funeral. Film star turned politician and Praja Rajyam party president Chiranjeevi visited Owaisi's residence this morning and paid his respects.

"Mr. Owaisi was a powerful and a strong leader who strived to protect the culture and identity of Hyderabad and to solve the problems of Muslim minority. It is very difficult to find another leaders like him", Chiranjeevi said. However the leaders of the state BJP were conspicuous by their absence.Delegations of various Muslim organizations including Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiatul Ulema, Jamiatul Mashaiq also attended the funeral.

The state government had declared a State holiday to the educational institutions and the government offices today as a mark of respect to Owaisi. Salahuddin Owaisi's political career spanning over half a century was extraordinary in the sense that he had started his career as a member of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation in 1958 and went on to become the member of Parliament. He was elected to Lok Sabha from Hyderabad for five straight terms. He also served as MLA for 23 years representing different constituencies of the city.

AIMIM President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi ( Salar e Millat) Passes Away

The Late All India Majlis e Ittheadul Muslimeen President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi (Salar e Millat) in a file Photo after winning the election in 1989.

Second Pic the Body of Late AIMIM President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi kept in Party Headqaurters in Darrusalam for Last Respects in Hyderabad

AIMIM President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi ( Salar e Millat) Passes Away Sep 29th, 2008

Hyderabad, Sep 29 (IANS) All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) President and former MP Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi ( Salar e Millat) died here Monday night, his family said. He was 76. He was hospitalised about 10 days ago with breathing problems.

Owaisi, who dominated Hyderabad politics for four decades, is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.

He breathed his last around 9 p.m. at his residence in Hyderguda. The end came a few hours after he was shifted from hospital, his son and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said.

His body will be kept at Darussalam, the MIM headquarters, Tuesday morning to enable people to pay their last respects. The burial will take place at the Dargah Hazrat Mohammed Hasan graveyard near the party office.

‘Salar’, as he was popularly known, represented the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency for two decades. He was first elected to parliament in 1984 and re-elected in 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 1999.

Owaisi began his political career in his youth and was first elected to the state legislative assembly in 1962. He continued to be a state legislator till he was elected to parliament.As the news of his death spread, shopkeepers in Hyderabad downed shutters and black flags were flown in mourning. Police beefed up security as a precautionary measure.

MIM has one MP and five state legislators from the cityof Hyderabad, where Muslims are an overwhelming majority.

Mr Owaisi headed the AIMIM since 1975 and was Member of Parliament from Hyderabad for six terms from 1984 to 2004. Now, his eldest son Mr Asaduddin Owaisi represents Hyderabad in Parliament. His second son Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi is the floor leader of the five-member MIM group in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

In the post-Independence era, the MIM was revived in 1958 when Mr Salahuddin Owaisi¢s father and eminent lawyer Moulana Abdul Wahed Owaisi was elected its president. Mr Wahed Owaisi, known as Fakhr-e-Millat, held the post till his death in 1975. Mr Salahuddin Owaisi was elected to succeed him as party chief. He was re-elected for six consecutive terms and held the post till his death.

In March 2004, Mr Salahuddin Owaisi opted out of electoral politics and did not contest the Lok Sabha elections, after being elected to the Parliament from Hyderabad for six consecutive terms during two decades (1984-2004). The party fielded his eldest son and two-term legislator Mr Asaduddin Owaisi from Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, who is now serving his maiden term in Parliament.

In his political career spanning 50 years, Mr Salahuddin Owaisi held elective posts for 44 years. He was first elected to the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad as a councilor in 1960. As MIM floor leader, he was the leader of the opposition in MCH for two terms (1960-69). He made into the Assembly in the 1962 polls by trouncing the then Congress minister Mrs Masooma Begum from a city constituency. Again, in 1967, he defeated another Congress minister Mir Ahmed Ali Khan by contesting against him. He was elected to the Assembly for five terms between 1962-1984.

A veteran of electoral battles all through his long political career, Mr Salahuddin Owaisi successfully contested elections 13 times and lost only once in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections. He has steered the party through turbulent times during the last 33 years. The party has grown from strength to strength under his leadership. The MIM currently has five MLAs, one Member of Legislative Council (MLC) and one MP, besides a number of councilors and corporators in municipalities and municipal corporations in the state.

Thanks to his efforts, the MIM, through the Dar-us-Salam Educational Trust, established an Engineering College, a Medical College, a Degree College, and Colleges for MBA, MCA, Pharmacy and Nursing, and an Industrial Training Institute. The MIM also runs a Cooperative Urban Bank, besides two major hospitals in the city. Besides fighting for the rights of the Muslim minority, the party has been espousing the cause of Urdu language, literature and culture.

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen Party Celebrates its 50th Golden Jubilee Celebrations

All-India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi adressing Party Workers and Media in MiM Party Office Darusalaam in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad, March 2 Majlis-e- Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), a powerful Muslim political party in Andhra Pradesh, Sunday celebrated its golden jubilee. Party president Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi addressed a rally at Darussalam, the party headquarters, to mark the day.

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  Mr Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi recalled the party’s struggle in 1950s when Muslims were passing through difficult times after "police action" against the erstwhile state of Hyderabad.He was referring to the operations in 1948 against the forces of Nizam, the ruler of the then Hyderabad state, to merge it with the Indian union.It was March 2, 1958 that MIM was revived with a new constitution.
  
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  Salar-e-Millat, as Owaisi is popularly known among his followers, recalled that his father Moulana Abdul Wahid Owaisi accepted the mantle of leadership when the Muslims were facing a crisis after "losing everything during the police action and nobody dared to speak for the rights of Muslims". "MIM has set an example for the entire India. It not only achieved political power to force the successive governments to address the community’s concerns but also built a number of educational institutions and hospitals," he said.
  
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  "MIM has one-point programme: the Muslims and Backward Classes should unite on a single political platform. People used to ridicule us when we called it All-India MIM. People used to ask where is the office. Today, I can tell them the biggest office for any party in the country is our party headquarters," he said amid thunderous applause by thousands of party workers.
  
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  "We have done what others could not do. The number of Muslims is less in Andhra Pradesh when compared to Uttar Pradesh and other states, but our achievements show that numbers alone do not work and it is the determination which is required," said Owaisi, who represented Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency for almost two decades.


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  MIM Supremo, Mr Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, said his Party was not against the formation of Telangana state but insisted that Hyderabad should be left. He also said Warangal would be ideal to become the State Capital of the proposed smaller state.
  
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  MIM, which has mass support in the City of Hyderabad, has one MP and five members of state assembly from the capital. Mr Owaisi’s eldest son Asaduddin Owaisi is now representing Hyderabad parliamentary constituency while another son, Akabruddin Owaisi, is a legislator from Chandrayangutta assembly constituency and MiM Party Floor Leader in the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly.

MiM Party President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi Interview on the Eve of MiM Party 50th Golden Jubilee Celebration

MiM Party President Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi Interview on the Eve of MiM Party 50th Golden Jubilee Celebration

Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen Party to Celebrate its 50th Golden Jubilee Anniversary

MiM Submits Memorandum to SHRC Over Police Firing

MiM Member of Parliment Asadudin Owaisi Arguing with Police DIG (CID) Sandeep Shandilya over his Attempt to Move Crowds with Force in Hyderabad after Prayers in Mecca Masjid on Friday.

HYDERABAD: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) will hold an inquiry on June 11 into the police firing in the old city after the Mecca Masjid bomb blast on May 18 that reportedly claimed five lives.

Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen (MIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi along with Partymen on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the SHRC Chairman, B. Subhashan Reddy, here on Thursday urging him to take up a full-fledged inquiry into the matter. Mr. Owaisi in his memorandum described police action as `unwarranted' and `unprovoked' adding that the firing was ordered without following due procedures.'There was absolutely no need for police firing. Not a single policeman was injured. There was no loss to property. Unnecessarily five innocent people have lost their lives and four others are injured.

The MIM leader submitted an account outlining the conditions in which five persons were killed while another eight persons were injured in the police firing. "Police opened indiscriminate firing on innocent people who started running towards Shalibanda after coming out of the mosque," he said.

MIM party workers who interacted with the media after meeting the SHRC Chairman pointed out that Self Loading Rifles were used in the firing. "SLRs are only used to combat terrorists or naxalites and not common people," Mr Owaisi said. SHRC Chairman B. Subhashan Reddy informed that they would wait for the report from Commissioner of Police and Hyderabad District Collector before reaching any conclusion. Mr. Reddy informed that the notice was served on the Commissioner of Police seeking explanation for reasons behind the police firing.

MIM Stages Protest at Andhra Pradesh Police Headquarters

MiM MP Asaduddin Owaisi Speaking to Press Reporters in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), a party with a large following in Hyderabad, Sunday staged a protest in front of the Andhra Pradesh police headquarters demanding immediate suspension of the police officials responsible for firing after Friday's bomb blast at the historic Mecca Masjid.

Led by party leader and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, MIM activists staged a sit-in in front of the office of Director General of Police (DGP) in Saifabad, throwing traffic out of gear in the heart of the city.

Tension prevailed for some time as the activists, who were carrying black and green flags, tried to barge into the high-security office, abutting the state legislative assembly building. They shouted slogans against police and set afire an effigy DGP M.A. Basith.

The MiM MP demanded that the government immediately order an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the bomb blast and the police firing and suspension of officials for opening fire. The 17th-century Mecca Masjid, near the city's famous landmark of Charminar, was targeted with a powerful blast Friday afternoon. Soon after that, police had fired on a protesting mob to quell violence.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said Saturday that 11 people were killed in the mosque blast, while five died in police firing.On Saturday night, the police chief had clarified that nine people died in the blast and five in firing.

Owaisi, however, said 10 people died in police firing and seven in the blast. Basith had initially denied police firing and claimed that only rubber bullets were fired. During a meeting called by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil here Saturday, the DGP had defended the police action.'We want an immediate CBI inquiry and immediate suspension of guilty officers and if these demands are not met then there is no difference between the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat,' said Owaisi, whose party is an ally of the ruling Congress.

The firing was unprovoked. Some policemen deliberately targeted protesters and shot them in their chests,' alleged the MP.

Akbaruddin Owaisi MiM Floor Leader in the state assembly, and other party leaders also participated in the protest. Hyderabad, which is a city's five million muslim population, is a traditional stronghold of MIM. The party won all the five assembly seats in the old city and the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat in the 2004 elections.

MiM calls for Hyderabad Bandh Against Bomb Blasts

Above Pic Shows a Road in Hyderabad During Bandh Called By MiM and MiM MP Asaduddin Owaisi along with MiM Party Workers Forming Human Chain to Stop Police From Lathicharging Protestors in Hyderbad

Hyderabad: The All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has called for a bandh on Saturday to protest against the bomb blast at the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad.
According to MiM Party sources, seven persons died in the blast in the mosque while seven others were killed in police firings to quell riotous mobs who came onto the roads subsequently. In all, 98 persons were injured in the blast and the subsequent incidents.

The MiM party leaders blamed the state government for the police firing. Additionally they urged that the state leaders should swing into action, and nab all those responsible for the blasts.
MIM has also alleged that the blast was the handiwork of people who do not want any unity between Hindus and Muslims in India. "People are very angry. To call it a hurt would be an understatement. Why is it that mosques are being targeted in all in Congress-ruled states? The police wanted to cover up this, hence they resorted to firing," Asaduddin Owaisi, MiM MP from Hyderabad, alleged.

He also said that the police should have maintained restraint but resorted to firing at the panic -stricken mob. He alleged that Additional Commissioner (Crime) Rajiv Trivedi was trying to link the Mecca Masjid blast with the one at the City Task Force office in October 2005.The Police should have open mind It is a terror act. The Police will end their sterotype investagation by linking the act to Bangladesh or Pakistan.

Action has to be taken immediately against the erring police officers who opened fire on the common people. A CBI inquiry should be done into the incidents the Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen Party has called for a bandh tomorrow to protest against the attack on the composite culture of Hyderabad and Secunderabad , said Mr Owaisi .

MIM threatens Agitation against Dividing Muslim Community

Andhra Pradesh United Muslim Action Committee Members with Congress Party President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi submitting a Memorandum in New Delhi.

HYDERABAD: The Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen Party leadership reacted strongly on Tuesday to the proposed government move to divide the community on caste lines, declare it backward and give reservation in professional colleges and government jobs beginning in July and said it would resist the move.

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that if the government did not desist from this dangerous approach of dividing Muslims into castes, our party will be constrained to start a public agitation against this move the party treats it as an attack on unity and existence of the community.

In the letter that he wrote to chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on March 28, Owaisi said that the inaction of the government in pursuing the pending appeal in Supreme Court against the orders of the AP High Court quashing the Muslim Reservations Act has already caused enough heart burn among the Muslims.

MiM Demands for Seprate Metropolitan Regional Development Board for Hyderabad

Majls e Ittehadul Muslimeen Party Headquarters Darrussalam on the eve of Milad u Nabi Meeting in Hyderabad , MiM MP Asaduddin Owaisi Can be seen adressing the Gathering .

Hyderabad, April 26: All India Majlis-e-Ittehaadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi on Thursday demanded the State Government to constitute a separate Metropolitan Regional Development Board for Hyderabad.

In a statement here, Akbaruddin Owaisi recalled that since 2004, the AIMI has been demanding the revival of the regional development boards for the three regions which were abolished by the previous Telugu DesamParty government way back in 1983.

He pointed out that the regional boards for Telangana , Andhra and Rayualaseema regions were established under the Six-Point Formula hammered out in September 1973 by the Central Government in the wake of separatist agitations in Telangana during 1969-71 and in Andhra region in 1972-73. However, in 1983, the then TDP Chief Minister N T Rama Rao had abolished these regional boards without any rhyme or reason.

While welcoming the decision of the Congress government now to revive the regional boards, he,however, questioned the rationale behind the creation of two regional boards for Coastal Andhra—one for three north coastal districts and another for six south coastal districts. Regional Development Boards for Telangana, Andhra and Rayalaseema regions are enough.

Instead of creating two regional development boards for Coastal Andhra, he asked Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy to constitute a separate metropolitan regional development board for Hyderabad. He pointed out that both the central and state governments are collecting taxes to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore every year from the t win cities of Hyderabad-Secunderabad and adjoining areas. However, both the governments are providing financial assistance of less than Rs 1,000 crore annually for the twin cities under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and other state and central schemes implemented by the Municipal Corporation and other civic bodies.

He said that the State Government has proposed to form Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority besides creating the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, even though the latter issue is pending in the Supreme Court. In this backdrop, the State government should set up a separate Metropolitan Regional Development Board for Hyderabad with representation to elected representatives from the twin cities so that effective metropolitan development plans are drawn up and implemented.

MiM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi Seeks Clarifications on Budget in Andhra Pradesh State Assembly

MiM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi Giving speech in MiM held Pubic Meeting in Hyderabad.

MiM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi Seeks Clarifications on Budget in Andhra Pradesh State Assembly.

Hon able Speaker Sir, First and foremost regarding the revenues I would like the Finance Minister to provide details as to how he proposes to raise Rs 8700 Cr from the sale of lands and the place where the government would auction the lands and the upset price per acre for the proposed auction.

Secondly Sir, I want to have clarification about the increase in public debt as the public debt is estimated to go up to 86464 cr by the end of 31st march 2008 from Rs 77952 Cr this year representing an increase Rs 8512 Cr at this rate, the states outstanding public debt is likely to increase by 1 lakh Cr to 2008 to 2009. When the Congress will complete its tenure so I would like to have clarification in this regard from the finance minister.

I would also like the Finance Minister to spell out measure’s to ensure that the state does not slip into virtual debt trap and the future generations are not unduly indebted, I would request the finance minister to respond to our demands for increasing the budgetary allocations for minorities welfare to at least Rs 500 Crores a year, so that the Government to redouble its effort for the socio economic and educational uplifment of the minorities in the back drop of the Sachar Committee recommendations .

I would like the Finance Minister to spell out the agency or organization, which would be designated as the nodal agency for disbursement of scholarships and reimbursement of fee’s to minority students now, sufficient staff needs to be sanctioned for the nodal agency because the scholarship amounts have increased in this financial year.

I would request the Finance Minister to spell out the time frame for the 12 minority hostels promised last year and 36 more hostels promised by the chief minister to become functional.

I would request the Finance Minister to extend the Jawahar knowledge center scheme to the minority run professional college’s allover the state so as to provide gainful employment to students graduating from these college’s, The Chief Minister has been kind enough to announce a special package for the old city with out lay of Rs 2025 Cr over the next 3 years.

I would request the Finance Minister to spell out the various heads of accounts and schemes under which allocations have been made for the old city package into the next year’s budget. I would request the Finance Minister to entrust the job to Quli Qutub Shah Urdu development for effective implementation and monitoring of the old city special package statutory status, adequate staff, powers and financial allocations should be provided to QQSSUDA for overseeing the old city special package.

I would request the Finance Minister to consider waiver of electricity bill arrears of the poor consumers of old city and also to withdraw thousands of cases booked against them by discom officials in the last few years.

About the third phase Krishna water Sir, it has not been mentioned anything in the budget. The Present requirement and the present water that is received by Hyderabad city is only 230 MGD, and we need at least 400 MGD of water to fulfill the promise made by the Chief Minister i.e. , 24 hours supply we need 500 MGD of water for this third phase of Krishna water for Hyderabad city is must and compulsory. Through you Sir, I request the government to please reconsider the decision of not bringing the third phase and please bring the 3rd phase, because the Chief Minister had also promised 25 MGD of water to Fab City.

About the land distribution Sir, The Hon able Finance Minister mentioned I have the Abstract and I would like to bring to his knowledge Sir, that in the 1st phase the minority beneficiaries have been 1568.In the 2nd phase Sir, the minority beneficiaries have been 1053 and in the last phase Sir, it is only 98 beneficiaries out of 4,023000, minority beneficiaries have only been 2819, this is less then 1%, I hope that the government take notice and do justice.

About the housing also I have the details Sir, the total houses constructed for SC, are 2, 71,000 in terms of percentage it is 37%, for ST`s it is 12% for SC`s and ST`s it is 68%. For BC`s it is 28% and for minority it has been only 6%. I request that this also be taken care of by the government and, according to the existing GO`s houses should be allocated to the Muslims. So far as the urban land ceilings act is concerned, I want the finance minister to spell out the time frame for repealing this act in consonance with the repel of the central government, Regarding the Arogya Sri Scheme to provide health insurance I would like the Finance Minister to clarify how the ceiling of coverage up to Rs 2 lakhs has been reduced to Rs 1.5 lakh with in a week from the Governor’s address to the Budget speech. I would like the Finance Minister to provide the details of the allocations made in the Budget for the MCH, HUDA and other civic agencies such as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Youjna and other scheme’s like Indirama,

Lastly I would like the Finance Minister to give an assurance to the house that the entire Annual Plan outlay for 2006-2007 would be fully spent before the financial year comes to an end by March 31st, specially since in the previous two years there was a short fall of RS 4506 Cr in terms of actual plan expenditure against the budgeted outlay.
About the Regional Development Board, the government has agreed to constitute a Board; I would like to know when they would constitute the Regional Board.

Sir, when we come to the governor speech you say Budget speech, when we come to the Budget speech you say speak Demands and when demands come you say Appropriation.

Sir, we come out with so much of preparations in the morning they took 5 hours for one question only two parties. Old building is there why don’t you send us to old building? We feel only this building is only for TDP and Congress legislators, we do so much of hard work and some prepared. One Urdu newspaper wrote stating that the MIM legislators were quiet when the adjournment motion was raised about the 3rd phase of Krishna water by TDP, BJP and TRS. Here you don’t give us time and Jokers sitting write something not knowing what they have to write.

I have given two privilege motions against these Newspapers. They just do not understand any thing, they write anything privileges committee is there, why don’t you take action against them, and they are white collar criminals. The Editor’s son has sold girls to prostitute houses.
About the Sarva Siksha Abiyaan Sir, I request in all those districts where Urdu has been declared as 2nd official language, 30% allocations should be made compulsory for Urdu schools.

Lastly Sir, Most important issue which no one has mentioned, I would like to bring to the notice of this house about the price rise in essential commodities. A Committee should be formed and we should see how best we can tackle this and reduce the prices,

I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity.

MiM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi Speech On Budget in Andhra Pradesh State Assembly

Majlis e Ittehadul Mulsimeen Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi

MiM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi Speech On Budget in Andhra Pradesh State Assembly.

Speaker Sir, first and foremost I would like to congratulate the Honble Finance Minister Sri K Rosaiah Saab for successfully containing the revenue deficit and achieving a net surplus of Rs 25 crores in the ensuring financial year he has promised to contain the net deficit in the next financial year to Rs 33 crores. Even while steeping up the overall expenditure substantially to Rs 80,996 crores, including Rs 48,023 crores under non plan and Rs 32,973 crores under plan, the revenue deficit would be a mere 0.01 percent of the Gross State Domestic Product. The fiscal deficit would be only three percent of the G.S.D.P. Out of the total expenditure of Rs 80,996 crores, the state annual plan outlay has been fixed at Rs 30,018 crores which marks a 53 percent increase over the current years plan outlay of Rs 19,557 crore.it is a matter of satisfaction that allocations for irrigation projects ,housing education, health and welfare sectors have been increased substantially. It is the fourth budget of the congress government after it regained power in the state in the 2004 assembly elections it is also the fourth budget presented by the Finance Minister Sri Rosaiah under the stewardship of Honble Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajashekar Reddy .the successive budgets since 2004 have been formulated to fulfill the promise set out in the congress poll manifesto and the priorities set out by the present government.

The Finance Minister has been quoted as saying by the media after presenting the budget that o quote” I am not building castles in the air, I am very realistic it is reality a historic and progressive budget we have not changed the priorities nor neglected and sectors, the Honble Chief Minister has also hailed the budget for 2007-2008 as a path breaking, development focused, welfare oriented and growth accelerated budget

It is true that the present government has successfully managed the states economy ,which has moved from democracy to the state of prosperity .Although Budget expenditure is increasing every year, the revenue and fiscal deficits have been brought down substantially more important , for the third successive year , the congress government has not resorted to any overdraft from the reserve bank of India for a single day which is a good sign of fiscal prudence and discipline and sound cash management by the finance minister.

In 2007-2008, the Finance Minister has budgeted for total receipts of Rs 81,021 crores and total expenditure of Rs 80,996 crores ,leaving a modest surplus of Rs 25 crores .however taking into account ,the negative opening balance of Rs 58 crores ,the next financial year will close with a deficit of Rs 33 crores in other words ,the finance minister has budgeted for a substantial increase of rs19,438 crores in total revenue and Rs 19,443 crores in total expenditure in the next financial year compared to this years figures revenue receipts alone are expected to go up by Rs 9803 crores so also revenue expenditure bis budgeted to go up by Rs 9786 crores similarly, substantial increases are envisaged under the capital expenditure and loans and advances.

It would appear that estimates of revenue receipts by the Finance Minister are on the higher side. doubts are expressed in some quarters about the ability of the government to raise additional revenue of Rs 8700 crores from the sale of government lands and properties alone in the current year ,the government has realized Rs 1350 crores from this source as per revised estimate I would like the Finance Minister to provide us details as to how he proposes to raise Rs 8700 crores from sale of lands and the places where the government seeks to auction the lands and the upset price per acre for the proposed auctions I am sorry to the state that the state government has turned as a real estate business, selling the lands and generating revenue out of it but ,the question which arises is that previously also lot of precious land of Telangana were auctioned when the Honble Minister gives reply to my question , I would like to know as to how much extent of Telangana land was auctioned and what was the money generated from that auction and how many of the money was spent on the Telangana region and in particular the Hyderabad and Secunderabad cities the money is generated by auction but it is so unfortunate that the money is spent again on the prosperous region of the state i.e. the Andhra region. Another alarming aspect of the state budget is the increasing public debt of the state the public debt is estimated to go up to Rs 86,464 crores by march 31,2008 from Rs 77,952 crores this year, representing and increase of Rs 8512 crores at this rate the state outstanding public debt is likely to swell to Rs 100000 crores by 2008-2009 ,if I am wrong I may be corrected when the Finance Minister gives his reply when the congress government will complete its five year term it is going to be Rs 100000 crores also sir, contemplating to ensure that the state does not slip in to a virtual debt position that we believe in laying a healthy opposition role. If there is anything that is against the people of the state, we believe in healthy opposing and playing a healthy opposition role for that .if there is any good and better decision for the betterment of the people, we are here to appreciate that, sir, I would like to come on record and appreciate the allocation which has been made for the Minorities in the budget by the Finance Minister.

The allocations for Minorities welfare has been stepped up from Rs 69 crores in the current financial year to Rs 123.67 crores in the next financial year including Rs 120 crores under the plan and Rs 3.677 crores under no plan .The plan allocations include Rs 80 crores for scholarships .Rs 20 crores for reimbursement of tuition fees ,Rs 10 crores for investment in AP State Minorities Finance Corporation and another Rs 10 crores for other minorities related bodies including AP State Wakf Board , AP State Minorities Commission and AP Urdu Academy .The non plan allocations include 94 lakhs for Minorities welfare Department at the Secretariat ,Rs159 lakhs for Commissionartre of Minorities welfare, Rs 12 lakhs for Minorities Commission ,Rs 3 lakhs for Darut Maarif ,Rs 16 lakh for the upkeep of Mecca Masjid and royal Mosque ,Rs 8 lakhs for administration of Wakfs and Rs 33 lakhs for Wakf tribunal .Now the question that I would like to bring to the notice of the Finance Minister is that the in planned allocation is very less and that is the reason why in spite of having funds and the students applying for scholarships ,the scholarships are not being disbursed to the students because there is no infrastructural facilities for instance sir, if you take the example of Hyderabad district, the Hyderabad Minority Welfare Corporation Office ,i.e. the district Head Office does not have the table and chair ,it is such a pathetic state that they do not have the telephone connection they do not have the computer system also .the money is there ,the application are there ,the students are waiting but the scholarships are not been disbursed until now .As the academic year is coming to the closure and the students are going for the examination but still the scholarships have not yet been disbursed . The non plan allocation needs to be increased .I hope that the Finance Minister would look into this.The Scholarships and fees reimbursement for minorities at pre and post metric levels have been enhanced to Rs 100 crores in the next financial year .The allocation for scholarships for minority students would be around Rs 80 crores and the allocation for reimbursement of fees of minority students would be around Rs 20 crores .It is a long pending demand .Sir, it is my fourth Budget Speech I used to request the Government to bring the Minority scholarships on par with the BC scholarships .I thank the government that my voice was heard by they four walls of the Government and the Government has taken action in this regard and lived up to the word given by the Honble Chief Minister in this August House i.e. to bring the Minority scholarships on par with BC scholarships but at the same time ,the non plan needs to be increased in Minorities .However ,out of the Rs 80,996 crores over all budgetary expenditure the Hon ble Finance minister to be more liberal in earmarking allocations for minorities welfare but we are constrained to day that our hopes have been believed So far as staff strength is concerned, minorities welfare department has 45 officers and other personal minorities commissioner ate has 79 staffers, Minorities Commission has 15 employees and Wakf Surveys and Wakf Tribunal together have 14 staffers There is urgent need to augment the staff strength in all these offices and organizations so as to ensure their effective functioning and proper monitoring of the schemes and programmes undertaken by different organizations under the minorities welfare department.Coming to reservation aspect for the Muslims ,it is very good Sir, the government has promised and in fact the UPA chairperson Smt Sonia Gandhi had also promised 5% reservation would be given to the Muslims in the state of Andhra Pradesh .it is very sad that last Tuesday Honble Chief Minister was there in the official language commission and he came on record saying that my government is committed to give 5% reservation to the Muslims of Andhra Pradesh and on the same day the Honble Minister for Information and public relations gives the paper statement stating that the State government is contemplating to reduce the reservations for Muslims from 5% to 4% .the question that arises is that if the privilege of the house is the privilege of all the Members sitting here in this August House when the session is in progress how can a policy be declared out to the Media ? If any policy changes there with the Government, the Government should come in the house and declare that, yes the Government is thinking of reducing but as far as the Muslims and my party is concerned we say that it is the responsibility of the government to fulfill its promise of giving 5% reservations to Muslims, do not know how but, they have to give it is there look into how they will provide the 55 reservation.

Going ahead about the Wakf land ,I have mentioning repeatedly and once again I want to come on record ,the people here might think what this Akbaruddin Owaisi always keeps on mentioning the same thing Sir ,I need to mention it, need to wake up the people , I need the action because it took 3 and a half years for my voice to be heard by the four walls of the government by bringing the Muslim minority students scholarships on par with the BC scholarships Again , I come on record and say that in and around Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts more than 10,000 acres of land ha been allotted to Multi National Companies and all that land belongs to Wakf. The Government needs to act It is that it is for the sake of saying things I am standing here and saying all these things .This has been proved and the recorded evidence has been submitted to the District Collector . The District Collector Ranga Reddy had admitted in the meeting of the Committee on the Welfare of Minorities He admitted saying that yes, the Indian School of Business is situated on the Wakf land. He admitted and said that the Microsoft is on the Land .He admitted and said that the Wipro is on the Wakf Land. He admitted that the Urdu .University is on the Wakf Land. He admitted that the LIDCAP is also on the Wakf Land He also admitted that the entire extent of Manikonda Village of Land admeasuring 1700 acres is on the Wakf land .he also admitted that at Maheswaram where the Fab City is coming up 100 acres is Wakf land of Baba Sharufuddin Saheb Qibila Pahad .he also admitted that the Muslim maternity land is also of Wakf Land I was reading the newspapers about survey no 84 in the budget speech of the Honble Finance Minister and in the governors address. in the honble Chief Minister reply it is said that the land at Gachibowli would be auctioned and that also belongs to the Wakf .Wakf deed is there Legal battle is going on .the government is now taking action to allot the land to HUDA to auction that land .the same thing has happened if we have to see Dargha Ishaq Madani .in the supreme court a petition was filed and the case came up for gearing in Civil Appeal No. 4372 of 1985 and judgment was given confirming that an extent of 5,308 acres of Dargha Hazrath Ishaq Madani .In Vizag taluq and district as service Inam Land .Out of that land of 5,308 acres 3500 acres of land were alienated and allotted to Hindujas ,HPCL,NTPCand other various institutions. One thousand acres of land was allotted at the rate of Rs 2.5 lakhs per acre and the rest of the land was acquired at the rate of only 25,000 per acre. The question arises is why one thousand acres of land was acquired at the rate of Rs 2.5 lakhs per acre. If the entire extent of land would have been acquired at the rate of Rs 2.5 lakhs per acre then the A.P State Minorities Finance Corporation or the Wakf board would have got Rs 78 crores instead of Rs 78 crores only an amount of Rs 20 crores was given to the Wakf board .Out of that amount of only the Hajj House was constructed and no State financial assistance was provided for construction of the Hajj House .Sir, through you I request the Government to please look into the matter and release the balance amount. I would like to go on record and mention that I was just going through the internet on February 19th I got one piece of paper I would like to know what the Government has acted on this.

Sir, the Ministry of Rural Development Government of India has revised the IAY guidelines for making provision for earmarking funds for BPL Minorities in each state An amount of Rs 581.20 crores has been earmarked for the Minorities during the current financial year under IAY for construction of Rs 2.30 lakh houses .The district wise allocations and targets are to be decided by each state on the basis of concentration of minorities in the districts .Targets have to be achieved only on the existing allocations For each district no additional funds are provided .Further ,under Sampoorna Grameena Rojgar Yojana an amount of Rs 290 crores has been provided .Out of that amount some allocation has been made for Andhra Pradesh .In Andhra Pradesh the funds earmarked for minorities is Rs 476 lakhs .My question is that what has happened about the central Government funds have these funds been released by the Central Government and whether the funds have been received by the state government ? If the funds have been reached what the state government has done in this regard? No properties are well guarded and if the Wakf properties are well utilized then the minorities would not need any assistance from the Government .They have there ample resources and so much of expensive lands are there. They have been encroached . Zamina Masjid in Medak district is an example ,In Narsapur the extent of land is 80 acres. It is a graveyard. The Court has also given orders for eviction .But the Wakf Board is not acting upon it. Bus Stand is there on the Wakf and , Junior College is there on the Wakf land Degree College is there on the Wakf Land . It is a government college. The Government can have a lease agreement with the Wakf Board and give rent to the Wakf Board. In Narsingi in Medak District Jamia Masjid is there .In Narsampally 400acres of Wakf land is there .For that land pattas have been issued and it is encroached .Jamia Masjid in King Market in Kurnool Town in Kurnool District is another example .The total are you would be surprised of 500 aces is having encroachers .There some land is available and the Wakf Board and the government should act immediately and safeguard that land also .In Kurnool District Budda Baddi Masjid is there in Kullur Village and Mandal and the extent is 89 acres. House plots are being made and the house plots are given .Nizamabad Sarai is there .In Nizamabad beside the railway station a very prime Wakf property has been encroached .In Vishakaptnam Alamgiri Mosque 2100 acres of Wakf Land is there under the resumption of the district collector for the last 25 years .the question is that when the supreme court has given judgment why the collector is holding these 2100 acres of prime land of Wakf? Ishaq Madani Dargah is there and 7,000 acres of land is there which I have mentioned .In Aleru where electronic city is coming up 1300 acres of Wakf land is there. The Government issued orders for acquisition of that land alienating that land to some intuitions .This should be stopped .The Wakf Property should at least be best utilized fort he welfare of the Muslim minority community and it should also see that what was Mousha of the person who has Wakfed that land for But there is nobody to safeguard and protest these lands .I request through u the government to please reconstitute the Wakf Board and have some dedicated and committed workers there so that they can safeguard the Wakf Properties.

Sir, about Urdu Language the state government declared Urdu as second official language in 15 districts .12 posts of district minority welfare officers have been created But, in actual implementation the situation is very apathetic Only five posts out of 15 posts have been filled up .In other districts additional charge arrangements have been made with Urdu knowing personal .They are not at all capable of serving the local Muslims in Urdu schools _ I have been repeatedly bringing to the notice of the government _that a large number of vacancies have been kept unfilled .consequently there is no enrolment of students .in the morning hour also I have raised the same issue about the Urdu junior colleges and degree colleges .the strength of sections is reducing because of the reason that there is no ample teaching staff and because no pointed textbooks are available this needs to be addressed the Government must take sincere steps to break this vicious circle.

Sir, I would like the Finance Minister to spell out as to which organization will be designated as the nodal agency for disbursement of scholarships and reimbursement of fees to the minority students .Presently, the scholarships are being disbursed to the minority students through the AP Minorities Finance Corporation in Andhra Pradesh Urdu Academy . Sir, sufficient staff needs to be sanctioned for the nodal agency, which will disburse the scholarships and reimburse the fees.

Sir, the 78% increase in the allocation of the minorities’ welfare appears to be impressive at the first look. But, this increase has to be seen in the context of the small pace of allocation for the purpose Moreover ,the allocation for the minorities welfare is totally inadequate the minorities constitute 11% of the state population it is a modest increase .I beg for more allocation for the welfare of SC, STs and BCs .in terms of percentage the fact is that in absolute terms the increase in the allocation for the next year comes to an Rs 165 crores for SCs ,and Rs 38 crores for STs and Rs143 crores for BCs .is this the allocation for these weaker sections of society who are provided with statutory reservation? In education and public employment the allocation should be more higher .at the same time, we demand that the allocation for the minorities should be raised at least Rs 500 crores for this year so that the government could re double its efforts for the social economic and educational Upliftment pf the minorities who are stripped in poverty, illiteracy and ill health. We welcome the announcement of the Finance Minister of the decision of the Chief Minister for raising the scholarships at the rates on par with BCs. in the case of minorities as many as 3.5 lakh minority students would be benefited from the scheme in the next financial year. We also welcome the announcement of the Finance minister saying that 43 training centers have been established in the state to train 9600 minority youth annually in computer education and desktop publishing in Urdu Language. I also would like to bring to the notice of the Government – is anybody is listening –one thing the suggestion which I would like to make is that the AP State Minorities Finance Corporation owns many number of training programmes like hardware training ,software training and motor training and these are all petty. Sir through you, I request the Government to please help the Minorities finance Corporation to have some training centers of gems and jewelry or apparels or with regard to Fab City, which is coming it will be useful for the minorities .They should make sure that all the students coming for training in these centers are recruited by the Apparel Park or the Gem & Jewelry Park or by the Fab City. This would generate employment for the minority youth and our people will be very happy if this is accepted by the Government.
The Government is setting up 12 new hostels for the minority students and new residential coaching centers to pay minority students for computer education .I would like to point out that the Honble Chief Minister has promised 36 more hostels for the minority students .I would like the Finance Minister to spell out the time frame when those 36 hostels would become functional .All this is good But, there is urgent need for the Government to redouble its efforts for the Upliftment of the minorities who constitute 1/10th of the State population.

Sir, the Finance Minister mentioned about the projects being taken up in Hyderabad including the Outer Ring Road at an outlay of Rs 4,000 crores, express highway project at an outlay of Rs 600 crores and the Mass Rapid Transport System and the Metro Rail Project at an outlay of Rs 8760 crores .he also announced a master plan for upgrading the sewage system in Hyderabad which would be implemented form the next year at accost of Rs 4442 crores. Sir, in order to ease traffic congestion the finance minister announced construction of outer Ring Road with an outlay of Rs 4000 crores and MARTS at an estimate of Rs 8760 crores but, there is no mention of what is the time frame and what is the yearly budget allocation and what is the state share if it is a Centrally financed scheme .There is however, a budget provision of Rs 26.22 crores during the current year budget. The question which needs to be addressed and to be replied by the Hon’ble Finance Minister is that according to my information –I may be wrong –the Company will provide 60%, the Central Government will provide 20% and the state Government will provide 20% When the state Government is going to provide 20%? The 20%of the amount of Rs 8760 crores would work out to Rs 360 crores for this year .The allocation should have been Rs 360 crores, But Sir; the allocation is only Rs 26.22crores I hope the Finance Minister would give a reply in this regard. I want to mention about the traffic problems in the Hyderabad City .It is very sad to say for the last three years this august house has been witnessing a hue and cry .The Hon’ble Members are raising traffic problems of the City, The statistics are given but the government has never concentrated on this aspect .Hyderabad and Secunderabad cities have only 6% of roads .Any planned City needs to have at least a minimum of 18% of roads But, we have only 6% of road. We have only 434 junctions and it is very sad to say that out of 434 junctions only 98 have signals .The staff is retiring .40% of the staff has retired. New staff has not yet, been appointed New, new shaadikhanas are coming up. Fly –over being taken up. Simply we give the name of Fly Over But, they are not flyovers They are Just Overbridges going from here to there .Fly over means you are flying in the air and going in different directions But, it is not happening We need to have Proper Planning. During the Monsoon whenever we have little bit of down-pour what we see is that Hyderabad City is converted into a City of temporary lakes each and every cross –roads and chowrastes Because the drain system has totally collapsed .Nobody is taking any initiative Bangalore the infrastructure has collapsed .If the Multi Nationals are turning and looking towards Hyderabad because of the reason that the infrastructure has collapsed in Bangalore. Now if we do not look into the aspect of providing a free passage on the roads and free movement of traffic and the Police signaling and management of the City infrastructure then I think the multi nationals would like to go away from Hyderabad to some to other lace. I hope the Government will address this issue o the same line as they have addressed the irrigation projects of the State.

Sir, about Greater Hyderabad our party opposes the e action and the proposal of Greater Hyderabad .The people should not think that we are opposing it because politically the MiM would be at loss. No ,Sir, at present in the MCH when we see the percentage of the minorities ,SCs, STs and BCs the strength of the Muslims and the MiM is just the same when Greater Hyderabad s going to come into force .As of now 38% of Muslims are there .If Greater Hyderabad comes the population is going to be 41% .I am sure it is not going a political loss But, it is going to be a loss and the collapse of the infrastructure .The question arises is that when I was elected for the first time for the Assembly I used to sit here and I had heard DrY S Rajashekar Reddy speaking against the proposal of Greater Hyderabad when the TDP Government wanted to bring in Greater Hyderabad .I fail to understand that when a leader sitting here has ad different policy and different programme and when the leader goes there the policy and the programme and thinking automatically change. The TDP regime at that time said it was right and again they understood it and withdrew it .The Congress Party, which opposed Greater Hyderabad, wants Greater Hyderabad now .What happened about Greater Delhi Smt Sheila Dixit, in a conference went on record and said that Greater Delhi concept has failed and it has not served the purpose the Government thought and the Delhi Government is thinking of withdrawing Greater Delhi .About Mumbai Municipality what happened? Navi Mumbai has been made another municipality .They again broke Greater Mumbai concept With regard to Bangalore what we are seeing ? The infrastructure is totally collapsing. The greater concept is failing .The same thing is going to happen with regard to Greater Hyderabad also. We want to make the present Hyderabad great not bringing in others and trying to give the name of ‘great’. Whatever we have now we should use the resources .We have a staff, which is very less and again going ahead the Finance Minister has made an allocation to the Municipal and Urban Development Department .The budget has been increased to Rs 2438 crores. The Honble Chief Minister has recently announced a special package for the Old City of Hyderabad with and outlay of Rs 2235 crores for the next three years .I would like the Finance Minister to spell out the various heads of accounts and schemes under which allocations have been made for the Old city package in the next year’s budget. Why I am saying this is because a month back a leading Newspaper quoted that a special package has been declared but the package will not be implemented .The Paper went on record and said that if they Government starts one work or allocated hundred crores of rupees for the Old City it would give sweets to the whole of the Old City .The people think that it is a package just on a paper. It will not be practically implemented. Sir, Now about JNNURM. Lot of funds have been allocated as State Share, I would like the Finance Minister to spell out as to how much would be given to the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad for the implementation of Old City package. The State Budget has also earmarked Rs 7.84 crores including Rs 2.84 crores for salaries and administrative expenses for Quli Qutub Shah Authority and an amount of Rs 5 crores for capital works which is wonderfully inadequate ,I would say .I would like to make a suggestion with regard to Old City special package announced by the Honble Chief Minister . Hyderabad District Collector, Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad and Hyderabad Urban Development Authority should be strengthened by conferring the statutory status of an Urban Development Authority .Adequate staff powers and financial allocations should be made to QQSUDA for overseeing the implementation of the Old City special package.

Sir, I would like to draw the kind attention of the Honble Finance Minister to the serious problems being faced by the poor people in the Old City of Hyderabad. In the last few years particularly the Telugu Desam rule, Discom officials had put the residents of the Old City to lot of harassment on the pretext of power pilferage. Also, huge fines were imposed on these poor consumers for alleged violations. This way, even though the consumers in the Old City paid there power bills. The penalties and fines imposed on them for alleged violations mounted with penal interest. So, the so-called arrears of power bills have reached several crores of rupees.

Sir, I may recall the agitation taken up by the Congress, MiM and other parties against the then Telugu Desam Government when the power tariff was hiked exorbitantly in the year 2000.In the name of power sector reforms the previous Government placed huge burden on power consumers and put them to hardships . After coming to power, the Congress Government waived the power arrears of farmers to the tune of Rs 1200 crores, apart from providing free power to agricultural pump-sets .Recently, the State Government has waived the power arrears of SC/ST colonies in the State. I therefore request the Honble Finance Minister to consider waiver of electricity bill arrears of the poor consumers in the Old City of Hyderabad and also withdraw the thousands of cases booked against them.

Sir, a detailed analysis of the Budget papers shows that the Government has provided Rs 68.73 crores to the Municipal Corporation Of Hyderabad towards salaries, payment of property tax on Government properties compensation towards vehicle tax, octroi and property tax concessions, urban community expenditure and proceeds of profession tax .Besides, the plan allocations of Rs 31.22 crores include Rs 5 crores for MMTS and Rs 26.22 crores for Metro Rail.
According to press reports, there is no comparison between the amount due to MCH and the amount actually paid .Last year a sum of Rs 107.50 crores was due to MCH, but in effect a sum of Rs 32 Finance Minister to release the entire amount allocated to the MCH to implement their expansion programme . The Government should also follow the norms Of allocation from the tax collections. The Hyderabad Urban Development Authority gets budgetary allocation of Rs 99.15 crores including Rs 80 crore for the outer ring road and Rs 19.15 crores for Mega city project. Similarly, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board has been provided budgetary allocations of Rs 368 crores, including Rs 130 crores for Krishna water supply scheme, Rs 100 crores for water supply master plan, Rs 20 crores for Musi project and Rs 10 crores for sewerage works. I would request the Finance Minister to give the details of the allocations made for the MCH, HUDA and other civic agencies, under the centrally sponsored schemed such as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and Swarna Jayanthi Shahari Rozgar Yojana and the state schemes like INDIRAMMA.

Sir, about the drinking water supply to twin cities .The present requirement of water now supplied is 260 mgd.Presently there are certain areas in Old City and other parts of twin cities where there are no pipeline serving. They are 220 such areas and 100 of them are in Old City only. If these areas are also covered, the total estimated requirement would be 356mgd.
At present the supply is 215 mgd and there is a shortfall of nearly141mgd .because of the poor distribution infrastructure we are not able to draw Krishna water to the full capacity. At present there are 80 reservoirs and 13 new reservoirs are sanctioned, but their work has not yet commenced. The Honble Chief Minister while replying to motion of thanks to the Governors Address announced that under 3rd phase, Krishna water will not be drawn and that we will tap Godavaris water .The question here is that when there is no Budget allocation for that purpose, even if we bring Godavari water, it may not be sufficient for the twin cities for the present .what would be the fate f drinking water if Hyderabad is made Greater Hyderabad and when Fab City also comes up? If we compare with other metros Cities in India, Hyderabad stands at the bottom regarding the daily water supply, For example, it is 4 hours per day in Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune 12hours in Chennai and kolkata, 2to 24 hours in Delhi, 24hours in Ahmedabad and 6hours in Mysore. In Hyderabad we get alternate day water supply, that too not even for one hour .The pressure are also very low .How can we give 24 hours water supply? This is the question, which needs to be addressed .24 hours water supply means we need 500mgd.The present reservoir in the city are in 80 in number, the capacity of which is only 200 mld (millions liters per day).For this purpose 24 hours supply, Hyderabad Metro Water Supply & Sewerage Board has submitted a proposal for Rs 6200 crores to the Central Government .For 24 hours supply we need Rs 6200 crores .I would like to know what is the allocation made in the Budget for 24 hours water Supply. Nothing is made .Only you address on the paper.

Sir, I just need some time .I am sure the Finance Minister is aware of the poor condition of Government school buildings in the twin cities ,more so in the Old City .Most of the libraries and laboratories. I would like the Finance Minister to take special care of the needs of the schools in twin cities in terms of basic amenities. Both under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan programme and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Gurukula Vidayalaya Scheme, more educational facilities for the minorities need to be created.

Sir, through you I would like to request the Finance Minister to see that in the districts where Urdu has been declared as the second official language, 20% of the amount allocated to Sarva Siksha Abhiyan is compulsorily spent on Urdu medium schools, as it is very necessary to do so.

Sir, the D.S.C entrance was conducted last year after three years, but till now no appointments are made in the year 2006, Government identified 60000 vacancies of teacher’s posts, but DSC notification was issued for 17000 posts only. The Government has not filled up 20000 posts though more than 80000 sanctioned teachers posts are lying vacant in the State . Approximately in the State nearly 1.50 crores students are enrolled in the schools. as per norms the students –teacher ratio is 1:30,ie there should be one teacher for every thirty students .now in the state of Andhra Pradesh as per norms the number of teachers required is 5 lakhs ,whereas the present strength is only 2.20 lakhs. We need 5 lakh teachers according to the present enrolment of the students in various schools .If we see the figure of enrolment for the year 2005 and again 2006, in Government schools the enrolment has risen from 8, 99,831 to 9, 26,459 and in Zilla Parishad it has risen from 76 lakh .In Municipal schools it was 4 lakhs and the same has risen to 8 lakhs, .The total strength of enrolment of students is increasing, but the staff is not increasing. The State Government is providing pensions for the aged, widows, handicapped and others who are unable to fend for themselves .In the Current year about 9 lakh new pensions have been sanctioned under INDRAMMA scheme. The Finance Minister says that the beneficiaries comprised 18% SCs, 8.5%Sts and 49% BCs .I would like the Finance Minister to spell out the proportion of beneficiaries belonging to the minorities, because it has been spelt out in the Budget Speech.

Sir, the most important thing, which I would like to mention, is land prices. The land prices in the City of Hyderabad and also the State are going up .I would like to draw the attention of the Finance Minister to the long standing demand for repeal of the Urban Land Ceiling Act, which failed to achieve its laudable objective .I understand that the State Government is contemplating to repeal Urban Land Ceiling Act, almost eight years after the Central Act was abolished by the NDA Government .Barring Five States ,Andhra Pradesh ,Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra and West Bengal ,all other repealed the Act. In request that the Urban Land Ceiling Act, should be withdrawn. It should be repealed because it has not served the purpose for which it was brought.

Sir , about the white ration cards. The house will be surprised if I read out the figures while appreciating the Government action in enumerating all deserving families and seeing to it that every poor family received a white ration card. I would like to draw attention of the honble Finance Minister to a press report that were 1.24 crores of white ration cards which have now been increased to 1.63 crores .A sum of Rs 1051 crores is needed to supply just rice to all these white ration card –holders .The Officials say that the present allocation is sufficient for 7 and a half months only .What will happen to these card –holders for the remaining 4and a half months? The budget allocation is so less ration cards increased but ration shops have not increased.

Sir, about the pink ration cards. I heard Sri Krishna Reddy saying that pink ration card is of no use at all .Yes, Pink ration card is getting used for only one purpose i.e. for bailing out the criminals from the court .Nothing else .No coupons have been given for the pink card-holders People are suffering for want of gas cylinders and kerosene .What is the Kerosene quota given per family in Gujarat State? What is the per capita share of Andhra Pradesh? I have the fugures, but the time is not there
Sir, regarding the Jalayagnam programme, I would like to remind the Finance Minister that in his first budget, he had pointed out that 26b projects would be completed within five years including eight projects within the first two years .I am afraid there has been a time –overrun and the Government could not complete the eight projects in two years and it is unlikely to complete them within thee years too.
There is a need for the Government to expedite the work of irrigation projects, more practically in Telangana Region. The need to strengthen the canals and tank system in Telanagana is most important because most of the irrigation depends on tanks and canal system
Regarding the Telanagana University in Nizamabad ,it is lacking basic facilities for its functioning More Allocations should be made for this University .the process of Establishing another University in Telanagana ,either at Nalgonda or Mahboobnagar should be expedited, Jawahar Knowledge Centers were conceived to impart training to the rural based students. The Finance Minister has announced that the JKC concept would be extended to all degree colleges in the future .Before this is done, I would request the Finance Minister to extend the JKC scheme to the minority –run professional colleges all over the State so as to provide gainful employment to students graduating from these Colleges.

Sir, as far as Telangana is concerned ,Telanagana has always been neglected and injustice has been delivered again and again by any Government for the region to the people of Telanagana .the sentiments of Telanagana are now used for only getting the power .Telanagana region i.e., the erstwhile Hyderabad State was surplus state .After merger into Andhra ,the Telanagan region became backward region .It has been three years that this House has been witnessing debates on recommendations of Girglani Commission and GO.NO.610 Why is the Government taking so much time to implement the G.O.610? It needs to be implemented .whether it is encounters, again it is the people of Telangana who are suffering .Whether it is atrocities, it is Telangana people who are suffering .There are two important issues, which needs to be addressed by the Government before the end of the term .One is about reservations and the other is injustice given to the people of Telangana. Sir, three years back, to my question as to whether the Regional Development Boards would be formed .Honble Finance Minister said that they would be formed .I would like to know when the Regional Development Boards would be constituted because this year also he said that they would form the said Boards .I want to know when they would be formed. The government should learn a lesson from the outcome of today’s election results .Whether it is Punjab or Uttarakhand the main cause for the defeat of the Congress has been the price rise of essential commodities .This needs to be taken care . The Government should seriously address this problem .There is a steep rise in prices of even onion, chilies and rice. It is becoming hard and hard day by day for common man to live and this is why the Government is losing power. The Government should see what best can be done.

Sir .about Health sector I would like to point out one thing I appreciate the move of the Government for appointing new doctors, new nursing staff and other technical staff .But the sad state of affairs is that if we see that the total allocations made for the medicine,previously it was Rs 117.34 crores. But now again it is Rs 117.35 crores .The allocation for medicine needs to be enhanced it is very less for diet also. It has not been increased, but it has been reduced to 0.36%.

Sir .even the SEZ and power situation are also very bad, which need to be addressed.
Finally about the Home Department .I will go into it when I speak on Demands Later .In Hyderabad City the Crime rate is increasing .I will speak on that later .Only one thing I would like to bring on record now is that for the last 40 years there was struggle by naxalities .It is social and economic problem .I welcomed the move of the Government when they initiated talks with naxalite leaders .But forty years problem cannot be addressed in just one or two sittings .Through you I request the Government to please bring the naxalites back to the negotiating table and start talks with them.
Sir, before I conclude I would like to point out some disquieting facts about the annual plans .In the four successive budgets presented by him, the Honble Finance minister has provided record outlays for the State Annual Plans .However; there has been substantial shortfall in the annual plans in terms of actual expenditure. For instance the Finance Minister has provided Rs 13291 crores for the state plan in the 2004-2005 budget as against an outlay of Rs 12790 crores approved by the Planning Commission .The revised estimate was Rs 12825 crore,but the actual plan expenditure was only Rs 11456 crores .

Similarly, during 2005-2006, the Finance minister budgeted a state plan outlay of Rs 15651 crores against the approved outlay of the same amount .The revised estimate was Rs 13530 crores but the actual expenditure worked out to Rs 13439 crores. Thus, in the first two years of this Government, the approved plan outlay was Rs 28441 crore, the budgeted outlay was Rs 28942 crore, and revised estimate was Rs 4046 crores in terms of actual plan expenditure in these two years .You can imagine what could have been the revenue deficit and fiscal deficit of the State in these two years. If the entire budgeted plan outlays were spent perhaps, the Finance Minister would have been forced to go in for overdrafts from the Reserve Bank of India for a few days at least to overcome the resource crunch. But by quietly cutting down on the plan outlays in terms of actual expenditure, the Finance Minister has managed the State Finances.
In the Current financial year, 2006-07, the approved plan outlay is Rs 20,000 crores and the budget outlay is Rs 19,552 crores .The revised estimate is Rs 19,717 crore .I do not know what the actual expenditure will be since the Finance Department tends to curtail the budgeted plan outlays during the last two months of the financial year to cut down on overall expenditures in view of shortfall in budgeted revenue realist ion from different sources.
In the next financial year, the Finance minister has provided for an outlay of Rs 30,013 crore, which is said to the highest in the country, overtaking even Maharashtra, However the Chief Minister and the Finance minister are yet to hold the discussions with the Planning Commission to finalize the Plan size. The Planning Commission will approve the plan outlay only after making a realistic assessment of the revenues and resources of a state Government .I hope the Finance Minister will be able to get approval for a plan size of over Rs 30,000 Crores

I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity.

MiM Expresses Concern over City Traffic Problems

MiM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi with MiM Party workers in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad : The MIM has expressed serious concern over the mounting traffic woes in the state capital and blamed the police for ignoring the regulation duties. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Assembly on Thursday, MIM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi pointed out that the traffic police had been ignoring the regulatory work as they were busy imposing fines on helmetless drivers. "In every nook and corner of the city you find the police busy issuing challans and not regulating the traffic," he said and pointed out that a whopping Rs 15 crore was collected in 2006 as compounding fee. He wanted to know how much of this amount was spent on improving the traffic junctions, signal lights and others. Stating that Hyderabad has the largest vehicle density in the country — 2337 vehicles per kilometre — Akbaruddin Owaisi lamented that the road availability, however, was only six per cent. The total number of vehicles in the twin cities had crossed 22 lakh with autos numbering over 1.5 lakh, twowheelers 16.8 lakh and cars 1.67 lakh, the MIM Leader said and pointed out that the police were grossly understaffed to control the traffic. "There are about 150 vacancies but no steps are being taken to fill them up," he said. Reacting to this, home minister K Jana Reddy said a joint meeting would soon be arranged with three ministers — municipal administration, home and transport — to look into the traffic problems and find a solution.

MiM MP Asaduddin Owaisi in India Today Magazine

Part of an Article On Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi in India Today Magazine

MiM Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi's reply to the debate on the motion of thanks for the Governor’s Address

MiM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in State Assembly Hall.

MiM Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi's reply to the debate on the motion of thanks for the Governor’s Address in Andhra Pradesh State Assembly.


The Honourable Governor’s Address to the Assembly is the fourth such address after the Congress regained power in the State in the historic 2004 elections. The Governor’s address, incidentally, provides a mid-term review of the performance of the Congress government under Dr Rajasekhar Reddy’s stewardship. The Congress made many promises in the election manifesto for 2004 polls and the government has taken steps to fulfil these promises over the last 33 months.

So far as the minorities are concerned, the Government made efforts to fulfil the promise for five percent reservations for Muslims in professional education and public employment. However, this decision has faced legal obstacles with the Honourable High Court striking down the reservations twice. Now the issue is pending before the Honourable Supreme Court.

We expected the Governor to make a mention of the government’s commitment to the reservations for Muslims and the efforts being made to overcome the legal hurdles. But it is unfortunate that there is glaring omission of this all important issue in the Governor’s address which is supposed to be a policy statement of the government, providing a review of its achievements in the outgoing year and setting out the agenda for the government in terms of its policies and priorities for the ensuing year. It would have been in the fitness of things if the Governor had referred to the reservations for Muslims.

I would like the Honourable Chief Minister to clarify on the efforts being made by the Government to implement the decision on Muslim reservations by overcoming the legal hurdles. I am sorry to point out that there is no forward movement on this key issue with the Honourable Supreme Court yet to constitute the constitutional bench to hear the state government’s appeal against the High Court’s judgement quashing the five percent reservations for Muslims. I would like to request the Honourable Chief Minister to request the Government of India to implead in the case. The Attorney General of India should be requested to assist the government on the issue.

Recently, while inaugurating national seminar on “Challenges and Opportunities for Indian Muslims (Sachar Committee Report) hosted by AP United Muslim Action Committee here in Hyderabad, the Chief Minister had made several announcements like cent percent coverage of Muslim students in pre and post-matric scholarships in the state from the next financial year, opening of 36 new hostels exclusively for Muslim boys and girls and financial assistance for modernization of education in Madrasas.

The Chief Minister also spoke about steps to make the minorities feel that they are stake-holders in the development of the state. He also assured that so far as Sachar Committee recommendations in relation to the state are concerned, the government would its best to implement them. I would like to know from the Chief Minister what follow up action is being taken by the State Government for implementation of Sachar Committee recommendations.

I would like to draw the attention of the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities, which spells out a slew of measures, schemes, programmes, policy interventions and initiatives for enhancing opportunities for education for minorities, for providing equitable share in economic activities and employment for minorities, for improving the living conditions of minorities and for prevention and control of communal riots.

A number of centrally sponsored schemes and programmes are being implemented by the state government and the PM’s 15-Point programme clearly states that minorities should be covered under these schemes and programmes alongwith other sections of society. These schemes include Integrated Child Development Services, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya scheme, teaching of Urdu, modernizing Madarsa education, self-employment and wage employment schemes such as SGSY, SJSRY and NREGP, bank credit and micro credit, Indira Awaas Yojana, IHSDP and JNNURM, besides recruitment to state services, including police force, etc. I would request the Chief Minister to spell out the action plan for implementing the PM’s New 15-Point Programme for Minorities.

The Governor’s Address offers some positive signals for the minorities. The Governor has announced that the allocation for scholarships for the minorities would be doubled in the ensuing financial year from Rs.31 crore in the outgoing financial year. The Governor also mentioned that scholarship rates have been enhanced.

However, I would like to point out that the budgetary allocation needs to be further enhanced to fulfil the Chief Minister’s announcement on the floor of the Assembly last year that the scholarship rates for minorities would be brought on par with the Backward Classes. This has not been done so far, though modest increases have been effected in the scholarship rates for minority students at pre-matric and post-matric levels.

Our party also welcomes the Governor’s announcement that the government proposed to saturate the post-matric scholarship and reimbursement of tuition fees to all eligible students among BCs and minorities beginning from next year as is being done for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
This saturation should cover the pre-matric students also as promised by the Chief Minister.

I am sorry to point out that nothing has been mentioned in the Governor’s address about Urdu education, effective steps for implementation of Urdu as second official language in 15 districts, including the appointment of Second Official Language Commission for Urdu. Similarly, nothing has been mentioned about the scheme proposed by the Chief Minister for grants-in-aid for modernization of Madrasa education. No mention has also been made about the 36 new hostels for minorities promised by the Chief Minister.

The Governor dwelt at length on the implementation of land reforms and the scheme taken up for large-scale distribution of lands to the landless poor during the last two year. The government has launched second generation land reforms (Bhoo Yagnam) for resuming the assigned lands in the illegal possession of influential persons but I would request the Honourable Chief Minister to take effective steps for resumption of Wakf lands in the illegal occupation of influential persons and institutions, including government agencies. A drive should be launched to take back Wakf lands which are under illegal occupation.

So far as weaker sections housing programme is concerned, I would like to point out that the minorities, particularly Muslims, are not allotted houses in proportion to their population or as per the stipulated quota in urban and rural housing schemes. Our party welcomes the decision of the government to come out with a policy to help lower middle and middle class families to have their own houses, especially in view of the soaring land prices.

The Governor has referred to the emerging water challenge in the state capital. There is urgent need to take up the third phase of the Krishna Drinking Water Supply scheme for bringing a further 90 million gallons per day to the twin cities. Moreover, the Chief Minister had announced recently that 33 tmc feet of water or 550 MGD would be brought to Hyderabad through the Pranahita-Godavari link scheme. But the Governor has talked about only bringing 10 tmc feet of Godavari water to the city. This is not enough to tackle the impending water crisis.

Regarding the Old City of Hyderabad, the Governor has reiterated the Chief Minister’s
announcement of a special package of Rs 2024.65 crore to improve the basic infrastructural facilities in the next three years. The Governor has said that a similar proposal for the development of other parts of the twin cities is being prepared. Here, I would like to request the Chief Minister to ensure budgetary allocations under the State budget and central schemes to the tune of Rs.750 crore per year for expeditious implementation of Old City package as scheduled.

Another suggestion I would like to make. Hyderabad District Collector, Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad and Hyderabad Urban Development Authority are overburdened with work of implementation of various schemes, programmes and projects in the twin cities. Therefore, for effective implementation and monitoring of the Old City special package, the Quli Qutub Shah Authority should be strengthened by conferring the statutory statue of an Urban Development Authority. Adequate staff, powers and financial allocations should be made to QQSUDA for overseeing the implementation of Old City special package.

The Governor has mentioned about the Mass Rapid Transit System to be taken up at an outlay of Rs 7,986 crore for covering 60 kms in the first phase. The work on the MRTS is scheduled to commence in the ensuing financial year. The government should take care that a minimum number of properties are affected under this project, particularly in the Old City of Hyderabad. The government should also ensure that the affected property owners are paid compensation at the prevailing market rates to avoid hardships and litigation.

I would also request the Government to take up the Bus Rapid Transit System as a complementary scheme for the MRTS. The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad has already accorded sanction for the BRTS, covering a length of 42 kms at a cost of Rs 316 crore. The BRTS is essential for solving the chronic traffic problem in Hyderabad city. There is also need to expeditiously complete the Outer Ring Road project to ease the traffic chaos in the twin cities.

As regards Hussainsagar Lake and Catchment Area Improvement project with an outlay of Rs 310 crore,I may point out that we have been hearing for several years now that the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation has evinced interest in the project and agreed to extending financial assistance. But nothing has happened so far and we hope that this time, atleast, the work on the project gets going to restore the lake water quality and ecology at the earliest. However, there is no mention about the Musi River Conservation project and I request the Chief Minister to enlighten the House on this scheme.

Our party welcomes the plans to ensure water and power supply on round-the-clock basis for the state capital. I would request the Chief Minister to ensure that there are no power cuts in the current summer, especially in the cities and towns, in view of the ensuing public examinations for SSC, Intermediate, polytechnic, professional and degree and post-graduate courses during March and April.

As regards the government’s decision to set up regional development boards to ensure balanced regional development and development of all districts. This has been a longstanding demand of our party and the Finance Minister K Rosaiah reacted positively while replying to debates on state budget earlier but the implementation of the assurance has taken unduly long time. The sooner the regional boards are constituted, the better. However, unless a special package is announced for Telangana, as demanded by our party repeatedly, no purpose will be served by reviving the regional boards which were abolished without rhyme or reason by previous TDP government headed by N T Rama Rao in the early 1980s.

On the issue of Naxalism, I may recall that the Congress manifesto promised to hold peace talks with the Maoists to find a lasting solution to this protracted problem. The Congress viewed this problem as a socio-economic issue rather than strictly a law and order problem. But, after the aborted peace talks in 2004, the government seems to treat left-wing extremism purely as a law and order problem by giving a free hand to the police to neutralize the Maoists through arrests, induced surrenders and encounter killings. Encounters are no answer and it would be better if the Government revives the peace talks with Maoists at the earliest.


Additional points on Governor’s address:

The Governor has mentioned that the state’s economy is showing significant growth. During the Tenth plan period, which ends on March 31 this year, the state has recorded higher growth compared to eighth and ninth plans. Without imposing fresh taxes, the Honourable Finance Minister has managed the State finances very well in the last 33 months, without resorting to ways and means advances or overdraft from the RBI for a single day. I hope that the Finance Minister would fulfil the target of bringing down the revenue deficit to zero level by the year 2009.

The agricultural sector is also showing signs of growth, thanks to the short-term and long-term initiatives taken by the government to help the distressed farmers. The Central government has approved a package of Rs 9,650 crore for the 16 districts in the state where a large number of farmers’ suicides were reported. It is heartening to know that the foodgrains production in the state during the previous year reached an all-time high of 169 lakh tones.

As regards Jalayagnam, the government has launched the work for completion of 30 major and 18 medium irrigation projects to create an additional ayacut of 69 lakh acres
besides stabilizing existing ayacut of 21 lakh acres. I may recall that the government had promised to complete at least eight major projects in the first two years and the remaining projects in five-year period.

But there has been time overrun on this score, though an additional ayacut of 12 lakh acres has been created so far. Our party demands that all the ongoing projects should be completed expeditiously, so that the backward areas in Telangana, Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra get the much-needed irrigation water. Work should commence immediately on Pranahita-Godavari link project also.

On the issue of Special Economic Zones, it has been mentioned that the total extent of lands required for the SEZs would come to 1.5 lakh acres. The Governor has assured that the Government would ensure that “unless it is absolutely warranted, no wet land is acquired for creation of SEZs.” By saying so, the government is not ruling out the option of acquiring wet land in case of “absolute necessity” for the SEZs. We do not want the wet agricultural lands to be acquired for SEZs at all. Otherwise, this will cause heartburns to farmers and deprive them of their livelihood.

The power situation is turning to be precarious. The government should expeditiously complete the ongoing power projects in the public sector, including the 2,100 Megawatts combined cycle gas-based project near Karimnagar which is meant to supply power to Hyderabad . The Simhadri expansion power project and the Ultra mega power project at Krishnapatnam also need to be commissioned at the earliest. The government should make efforts to secure gas supply for the gas-based power projects, which are awaiting commissioning due to non-supply of gas so far.

Our party welcomes the novel scheme being introduced to provide insurance cover to BPL families for treating major ailments. The Arogya Sri scheme should cover all BPL families for providing insurance cover to the extent of Rs two lakh per annum. I would speak more on this subject when the demands for medical and health are taken up in the House later.

Also, the government should ensure effective implementation of all the schemes and programmes meant for improving school education. The Governor has announced that about 300 concept schools under public-private partnership mode are being proposed to bridge the rural urban divide in digital and communication skills. I would like the Chief Minister to give more details of this scheme when replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks for the Governor’s address.

With these words, I conclude my speech and thank the Honourable Speaker for giving me this opportunity.