Asaduddin thanks KCR for kind words, asserts contest inevitable

HYDERABAD: All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi thanked Telangana Chief Minister and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) supremo K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) for saying that MIM was a friendly party but added that AIMIM would contest in the segments it had decided with a sole aim of winning them.

Addressing a press conference at AIMIM headquarters in Darussalam on Friday, Asaduddin Owaisi said that he would not field candidates selectively for different constituencies to favour any other party, without naming the BRS. Ruling out a friendly fight, he said that Majlis would contest to win.

Answering a question on soft-pedaling of AIMIM towards the ruling BRS, the Hyderabad MP said that he would call a spade a spade. “Tell me how many Governments in India have demolished a mosque and rebuilt it at the same place. KCR assured to rebuild the mosque demolished in the Secretariat premises, but he rebuilt it. Congress promised to reconstruct Babri masjid, but failed to keep its word,” he pointed out.

“Don’t underestimate the sagacity of KCR, he had a vision and implemented it. The non-BJP alliance might ignore him but there is certainly a need for a third option which might include parties outside BJP and INDIA,” he said.

He said that Majlis appreciated various pro-minority decisions taken by the BRS Government in the State, including the residential schools for minorities, the ‘Shadi Mubarak’ scheme and free coaching for Muslim boys and girls to appear in national-level competitive examinations.

Calling for a separate Parliament session to discuss the Indo-China border, Owaisi demanded Prime Minister to stop running after the Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the vexing border issues. “After 19 rounds of talks now the Narendra Modi Government wants the Amy to enter into an agreement with China. The PM must explain the nation before succumbing to Chinese arm-twisting tactics,” Asaduddin said.

Commenting on Nargis Dutt National Integration Award for the controversial Kashmir Files movie, the Majlis chief said it was unfortunate that a movie made to create a rift between communities was awarded in the name of a great lady who worked all through her life to bring cohesion among different sections of the people.