Muslim community throws its weight behind Congress

 Hyderabad: The city’s Muslim community welcomed the Congress win in the state Assembly elections, although none of the five members from the community who contested on a party ticket secured a win.

Mohammed Ali Shabbir had contested the Nizamabad Urban seat, Mohammed Feroz Khan Nampally, Shaik Akbar Malakpet, Mujeebula Sherif from Charminar and Mohammed Azharuddin, the former Indian cricket captain, from Jubilee Hills.

Congress sources indicated that the party would accommodate a Muslim community member as an MLC under the Governor’s quota.

With the Congress enjoying sizeable support from the Muslim community, members said they are looking forward to the party fulfilling previously unkept promises.

Among the major demands are the 12 per cent reservation, judicial powers to the Wakf Board and representation for Muslims in appointing chairpersons of corporations.

Syed Azmatullah Husseni, the convener for TPCC’s campaign committee, said: “Congress government will deliver all its promises as soon as the government is formed. Muslim minorities who believed in BRS/TRS and gave opportunity twice were failed, with it failing to deliver on any of the welfare policies, causing minorities to vote against BRS. It is a fact that a Congress government, anywhere in India, supported the upliftment of minorities.”

He said, “We noticed the voting pattern of minorities in Karnataka elections and a similar wave was noticed here in Telangana. In national politics, whenever BJP needed support, BRS extended their support, a fact that was not missed by the minorities. BRS failed to understand that the minorities were observing this thoroughly.”

Ali Raza, president of the Seerat e Zehra committee, said: “As the Congress will be forming the government, this party assures all minorities that their pending issues will be resolved and better welfare schemes will be brought in. The result came as a great relief.”