Hyderabad, Feb 7 (Inditop.com) Muslim group Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Sunday held a massive public meeting here, supporting the demand for statehood to Telangana region. Thousands of Muslims, including burqa-clad women and girls, attended the meet.
Even as Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), the key Muslim political party in the region is keeping mum on the issue, the JIH joined the movement for separate state by holding the meeting at Nizam College Grounds here.
The Andhra Pradesh and Orissa unit of JIH and its frontal organisations like Movement for Peace and Justice (MPJ), Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) and Girls Islamic Organisation (GIO) held the meeting attended by thousands of Muslims from Hyderabad and nine other districts of the region.
Burqa-clad women and girls in large numbers attended the meeting, addressed by leaders of various political parties and groups fighting for Telangana state.
This is the first time that a Muslim group has come out to organise a public meeting for Telangana. Various pro-Telangana Muslim organisations supported the JIH.
Addressing the meeting, Jamaat leaders said they decided to support the Telangana movement as it was a movement for rights and justice for the region neglected ever since it was merged with Andhra in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh.
JIH Andhra Pradesh and Orissa zone president Malik Moatasim Khan said successive governments neglected the region in basic sectors like education, employment, irrigation and industries though many promises were made for its development at the time of merger.
He, however, said the Jamaat was for a peaceful movement and wanted lives and properties of people of all the regions to be protected.
“After seeing burqa-clad Muslim sisters coming out in such large numbers, I have no doubt that Telangana will become a reality,” revolutionary balladeer Gaddar said.
MIM, which has one parliamentarian and seven legislators in Hyderabad, has not spelt out its stand on the demand for Telangana state. The party said it would express its opinion during the consultation process to be launched by the government.
Muslims constitute about 13 percent of nearly 35 million population of Telangana. They are nine percent of Andhra Pradesh’s total population of about 80 million.
