Union Minister Kishan Reddy slams Cong, BRS for 'backing communal' AIMIM in MLC poll

Alleging that the Congress and BRS are helping AIMIM win the MLC poll in Hyderabad by staying away from the contest, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday questioned how the two parties can claim to be secular while supporting the "rank communal" AIMIM.

He said the Congress and BRS field candidates in AIMIM strongholds during Assembly, Lok Sabha, and municipal corporation elections to split the anti-AIMIM vote, but have now chosen not to contest the MLC election on April 23 to help the Asaduddin Owaisi-led party.

In a sharp attack on the ruling Congress and the main opposition BRS, Reddy, who is also the BJP president in Telangana, said both parties must explain how they are secular when they join hands with AIMIM.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who often speaks of secularism, should clarify how the Congress can be considered secular when it maintains friendly ties with AIMIM, a "rank communal" outfit, he told reporters here.

Referring to AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi's controversial 2013 speech—where he allegedly said it would take "15 minutes" to balance the Hindu-Muslim ratio in the country if the police were removed—Reddy asked why the Congress and BRS are helping AIMIM win.

He also demanded that BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao explain the rationale behind his party’s decision to stay away from the election despite having the highest number of votes.

Reddy alleged that Congress, BRS, and AIMIM are "cut from the same cloth" and said people should understand the "true colours" of the three parties.

Meanwhile, banners were installed at some places in Hyderabad in the name of "Hindus," appealing to Corporators of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC)—who are the voters in the MLC election—to exercise their franchise and vote against the AIMIM, which is allegedly insulting Hindus.

Taking exception to the BJP's attack against the Congress, the ruling party's MLC Venkat Balmoor alleged that the BJP fielded a candidate as part of a political conspiracy to accuse Congress of having an understanding with AIMIM.

The BJP chose to contest despite not having the strength to win the election, he told reporters.

The BJP is trying to gain political mileage by triggering religious animosities, Balmoor alleged.

The election to the Legislative Council from the Hyderabad Local Authorities’ constituency is scheduled for April 23.

The contest is between BJP’s N Goutham Rao and AIMIM nominee Mirza Riyaz Ul Hassan Effendi.

Congress and BRS have not fielded candidates.