It may not be business as usual for MIM as MBT seeks to shake up Old City order

Hyderabad: Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan Khalid accused the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) of depriving the Old City of development, especially in Yakutpura Assembly constituency, for decades, despite the party representing the constituency in the Assembly and the GHMC and in spite of being a friendly party to the ruling dispensation.

Khan found fault with the MIM for fielding an ‘outsider’ from Yakutpura, saying that people would reject the MIM outright.

During an election campaign meeting on Wednesday night, Khan, the MBT nominee from Yakutpura, alleged that MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi had fielded Meraj Jaffer Hussain, the Nampally MLA, from Yakutpura, due to the party's lack of a local leader.  Khan asked why the MIM had failed to nurture a leader from Yakutpura.

He exuded confidence that his party would win the segment. “The MIM’s theatrics won’t work this time, people will reject that party for depriving them of development and not resolving their basic issues,” Khan said.

Founded by Khan's father, Amanullah Khan, in 1992 following differences with MIM chief Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, MBT is contesting 10 seats, including Karwan, Bahadarpura and Yakutpura in Hyderabad. The party has been allotted ‘gas cylinder’ election symbol.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Khan highlighted the civic issues plaguing Yakutpura, including severe drinking water pollution in both the slums and affluent neighbourhoods of Amannagar, Azmathnagar and SRT Colony. He attributed this to an outdated sewerage system, due which drainage water was mixing with drinking water.

Khan said successive government had ignored the Kirloskar Committee recommendations for widening and revamping nalas. Additionally, he said, the MIM had not addressed the lack of primary healthcare centres and schools, and the issue of youth turning to drug abuse.

Khan questioned the whereabouts of funds, purportedly in crores, which Majlis claims to have secured from the state government for developing Old City.

The MBT leader accused the Congress of taking the minorities for granted. “The state Congress leaders are misleading AICC leaders and have become arrogant after the party won the Karnataka elections,” he said.