Zeenews Bureau
Hyderabad: A day after Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) withdrew support to the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh, the ruling party has decided to hold talks with its ally to persuade it to reconsider its decision, reports said on Tuesday.
MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, however, ruled out the possibility of his party reconsidering its decision. "Once we take a decision, we don't go back on it," he said.
Facing a possible crisis due to the MIM's move, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy held an emergency meeting of his cabinet last evening to discuss the political situation.
As many as 24 ministers including state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana attended the meeting. The chief minister briefed them about the stand taken by the government on Bhagyalakshmi temple abutting Charminar.
The MIM withdrew support while accusing the chief minister of allowing construction of a canopy over the temple structure in violation of court orders to maintain status quo.
Satyanarayana told reporters after the meeting that it was decided to hold talks with the MIM.
He said the MIM had only expressed its views and hoped that the issues would be sorted out. He said the government had acted as per the law and had done nothing to hurt sentiments of any community.
Hectic political activity was also seen in the camps of other major parties. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao took stock of the situation with some members of party politburo and other top leaders in Hyderabad.
Leaders of main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also discussed the latest political developments.
Curfew-like situation prevails in old Hyderabad
The situation in the old city of Hyderabad continued to be tense on Tuesday with sporadic incidents of stone pelting. A curfew-like situation prevailed around the historic Charminar.
The construction of a canopy over a temple abutting the monument has sparked political trouble in the state.
The 400-year-old monument and the usually busy markets around it were deserted with armed policemen barricade visible in the entire area. Residents in localities surrounding the heritage monument were facing severe inconvenience as police prevented them from coming out of their houses.
Policemen and personnel from paramilitary forces remained deployed at Charminar and surrounding areas. The police arrested Hindu religious leader Swami Paripoornananda and some BJP leaders proceeding to Bhagyalakshmi temple abutting Charminar.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Akun Sabharwal said the situation remained peaceful and appealed to people not to believe rumors.
Road Transport Corporation (RTC) suspended all its bus services. RTC officials said 157 services were cancelled as a precautionary measure. All schools and colleges in the old city declared a holiday.
Trouble broke out in Aghapura area outside the old city when some MIM activists coming out of the party headquarters pelted stones, damaging few vehicles. They targeted a vehicle of a television channel. Police resorted to baton charge to disperse the mob.
The incident took place after MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi addressed a press conference, announcing withdrawal of support to tje Congress government. Owaisi later came out of the party office to control hundreds of party supporters and persuaded them to return home.
MIM legislators were arrested at Charminar Sunday when they staged a protest over erection of a canopy on the temple structure. They alleged that the court orders to maintain status quo at the temple were violated.
With IANS Inputs
First Published: Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 10:43