Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen pulls out of UPA, AP govt, says Muslims being targetted

In a setback to Congress in Andhra Pradesh, its long-time ally Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) today withdrew support to the UPA government at the Centre and the state government.

Alleging that Muslim minorities were targeted in a series of communal incidents in the last few years, Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi, who heads the seven member MIM in the 294-member House, accused the Kiran Kumar Reddy government of allowing "Sangh Parivar activists to have a free run".

He said the state government did not listen to MIM, its ally since 1998, to rein in the Sangh Parivar activists.

The flash point in the ties between Congress and MIM came with a tarpaulin being allowed to be laid on a religious structure at the historic Charminar here yesterday, which Owaisi said is in violation of the High Court order to maintain status quo as on October 30.

"MIM cannot continue its support to the Congress government in the state and consequently to UPA at the Centre in the prevailing circumstances," he said.

The MIM leader, however, said he would continue to have a lot of respect for UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

MIM has seven MLAs in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and a lone member (Asaduddin Owaisi) in the Lok Sabha.

The strength of Congress in the state assembly is 155 plus one independent. Although, three Congress MLAs have switched loyalty to the YSR Congress of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, MIM's decision does not appear to pose an immediate threat to the Reddy government.

When asked about the future allies, Owaisi said the issue would come up at the time of elections.

"Jagan Mohan Reddy is my friend. Kiran Kumar Reddy was my friend. What happens, I cannot say. Let elections come," he said.

Congress Rajya Sabha member M A Khan said they have made all efforts to see that the MIM does not sever ties.

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