‘Let’s not repeat 1947’

Hyderabad:

• ‘Defeat efforts to divide India on communal lines’

“We must not repeat 1947. It was the biggest mistake of the country,” said Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Member of Parliament Ghulam Nabi Azad. Addressing the gathering of Muslim intellectuals at the United Minority Forum, ‘8th Annual State Minorities Convention’ on Monday night. Azad said, “we must not divide India on communal lines, and protect its sovereignty, unity and brotherhood.”

"Herein lies the benefit for both minority and majority communities, India is going through an unprecedented political, social and economic crisis.” he said.

“There has never been such social crisis in the country as there is now. For the last four years, we have been divided on various lines like religion, caste and classes. Unfortunately, this (division) is the act of people who were meant to unite and not divide the country,” he said while lambasting the opposition at center.

Today, the entities that should have turned hate into love, bridged the gaps are spoiling the fabric of India, he said adding that retaining secularism is most important. He urged the general public to participate actively in voting process.

Speaking on the occasion, Member of Parliament from Karnataka Naser Hussain blamed the TRS government for joining hands with the BJP. "TRS took part in all anti-people decisions supporting the ruling party at the center including demonetization” while playing appeasement with minorities at state. He said, “the Telangana Assembly elections are a semi-final to the 2019 elections and Congress will come out victorious.”

"The Congress is building alliances with like-minded parties to win the elections. The “party lost in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Jammu and Kashmir when the alliance with parties in these states broke. Realizing this mistake, it has formed the elections and is confident of winning the elections in Telangana.”

He blamed the TV studios “for the current situation in India" including violent acts of mob lynching, attacks on Islamic jurisprudence, and attempts to misuse the ordinances are detestable and "cannot be easily rectified".

Former Union Minister and MLC, CM Ibrahim said, “for decades only Muslim-centric issues like Aligarh Muslim University, the Shah Bano case, etc. in have been blown up by political parties while no one discusses the basic issues like ‘food, clothing and shelter”. The job of the Politicians is to unite the communities. They should not play division politics.”

The strength lies in the unity of different communities and classes, he said adding that the Government’s money is not alms to the community, but it is the right of the people.” Ibrahim said.

Speaking on the occasion Former Rajya Sabha Vice Chairman K Rahman expressed apprehension that "if Congress lags in victory this election, India is at the risk of authoritarian rule." Congress is the only party committed to the Constitution of India he exclaimed. The day Congress party refrains from its commitment, it will not survive in India,” he pressed urging the people to vote for Congress as Telangana CM KCR is a carbon-copy of PM Modi’.

Meanwhile, former JNU President and AISF leader Kanhaiyya Kumar said "Political parties must come together and unite for constitutional rights. Grand alliance is the need of the country today, and parties that are not in favour of this grand alliance are against the country. A united front can help protect the democracy and unity of the country from communal forces, he added.

Convener and TPCC Vice President Zafar Javeed, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister N MD Farooq, Chairman of Legislative Council Andhra Pradesh, Ahmed Shareef, Former Chief Minister of Kerala Oomen Chandi, AICC Secretary for Research Department Amir Javeed and eminent Muslim intellectuals and others were also present on this occasion.