T-Cong Rejects KCR’s Apology on Secretariat Temple,Mosque Demolition

Hyderabad : Telangana Congress rejected the apology tendered by the Chief Minister over the demolition of places of worship in the Secretariat and described it as fake and deceptive.

The Congress party has decided to organize a statewide protest against the demolition of places of worship in the Secretariat complex.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by former minister & ex-Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir at Gandhi Bhavan on Saturday. The meeting, convened by Hyderabad City Congress Committee Minorities Department chairman Sameer Waliullah was attended by senior leaders including TPCC Vice President Zafar Jaweed, TPCC Spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin, TPCC General Secretary SK. Afzaluddin, Nampally Incharge Feroz Khan, and others.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by former minister & ex-Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir at Gandhi Bhavan on Saturday. The meeting, convened by Hyderabad City Congress Committee Minorities Department chairman Sameer Waliullah was attended by senior leaders including TPCC Vice President Zafar Jaweed, TPCC Spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin, TPCC General Secretary SK. Afzaluddin, Nampally Incharge Feroz Khan and others.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Shabbir Ali informed that the Congress party would organize statewide protests against the demolition of two mosques and a temple in the Secretariat complex. He said that the demolition was totally illegal and aimed at hurting the sentiments of all communities. He said that the Chief Minister was treating the entire Telangana as his personal ‘jagir’ and he needs to be taught a lesson. He alleged that CM KCR was destroying the heritage of Telangana without giving any respect to the sentiments of other people.

He said  CM KCR’s claim that he was ignorant about the demolition was a joke and the biggest lie. He also rejected KCR’s offer for the construction of a new mosque and said that both the mosques ‘Masjid-e-Hashmi’ and ‘Masjid-e-Moatamadi’ in the Secretariat complex should be reconstructed immediately. He said there was no question of shifting the mosques to any other places. He said that the Muslim community would never agree to shift any mosque even if the Chief Minister offers to build it 100 times bigger with gold and diamonds.

He said a meeting would be held soon to finalize the agitation schedule in the second phase.

The Congress leader said that there was no question of any compromise on the issue as it concerns the faith of all Muslims. He asked the Chief Minister to order the re-construction of the places of worship at the same place without any delay.

Later, the Congress leaders burnt the effigy of CM KCR outside the Gandhi Bhavan. The Congress workers raised slogans against KCR and TRS Govt.