TRS should not get a single vote from minorities: Shabbir

Hyderabad: Former minister and ex-Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir urged the minorities to ensure that not a single vote from their communities goes to TRS in forthcoming bye-elections for Huzurnagar.

Addressing corner meetings in Nederacherla mandal of Huzurnagar constituency on Saturday, where by-polls are scheduled to be held on October 21, Shabbir Ali pointed out that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has cheated the Muslim community on multiple counts. Listing out failures of TRS Government, he said KCR did not fulfil the promises of giving 12% quota in jobs and education to Muslims. He did not give judicial powers to Wakf Board or restored an inch of encroached land. Similarly, TRS Govt neglected Urdu, did not appointed a single Urdu teacher, reduced minorities welfare budget by over 30%, never spent the full allocated budget; closed dozens of minority colleges, deprived poor minorities of scholarship and fee reimbursement, remained silent on cut in Central funds for minority welfare and did nothing to tackle rising unemployment among minority youth.

Shabbir Ali alleged that KCR was not secular as he pretends to be. "KCR supported all the decisions taken by Prime Minister Narender's Modi like demonetisation, GST, elections of President and Vice President of India, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, NIA Amendment Bill and most importantly Triple Talaq Bill. Further, the enquiry reports into Alair encounter and Kishanbagh Firing incident are yet to come out. "TRS Government did not even go for appeal in a higher court over the acquittal given by CBI Special Court in Mecca Masjid blast case. It also demolished Ek Khana Masjid in Amberpet and two mosques in the Secretariat premises are on the verge of demolition," he said.

The Congress leader condemned the TRS Government for not honouring the promise of constructing the Shaadi Khana in Mellachervu which has a significant minority population. On behalf of TPCC President Capt Uttam Kumar Reddy, he promised that Rs. 50 lakh would be sanctioned for Shaadi Khana from the MPLAD funds.

Earlier, Shabbir Ali had an interactive meeting with prominent leaders of minority communities at Kodad. Later, Shabbir Ali, along with former CLP leader K. Jana Reddy and religious scholar Moulana Lateef addressed a press conference. He said that Huzurnagar bye-elections was the best opportunity to smash KCR's dictatorial attitude. Referring to the mass dismissal of RTC employees, he alleged that KCR wants to treat employees like slaves and those refusing to obey his insane orders were being targeted in an inhuman manner. He said all sections of the society were fed up with the dictatorial attitude of Chief Minister.

Shabbir Ali said KCR was yet to recover from the shock of defeat in Lok Sabha, especially that of his daughter. Therefore, KCR's arrogance has now turned into frustration and he has started taking insane decisions like sacking more than 48,000 RTC employees in a single shot. He said KCR did not give any prominence to key sectors like education and health. He pointed out that KCR and other TRS leaders have stopped talking about Kaleshwaram for one month. People have now realised that Kaleshwaram was a publicity stunt and despite tall claims, not a single acre of land was irrigated and nearly 4,000 TMC of Godavari water went into the sea.

He also thanked the Communist Party of India (CPI) for withdrawing its support to TRS in Huzurnagar by-election. He appealed to the people of Huzurnagar to utilise the opportunity to put an end to KCR's dictatorial approach by ensuring the victory of Congress candidate Padmavathi Reddy with a huge margin.