Home Minister Amit Shah spoke after a roadshow in Hyderabad’s Old City area in support of BJP candidate K. Madhavi Latha. Shah alleged that representatives of the Razakars from Hyderabad have been sitting in Parliament for the past 40 years. He appealed to the people to vote for the BJP to bring Hyderabad into the mainstream.
During the roadshow, Amit Shah called for the “liberation of Hyderabad from the Razakars.” Although he did not mention Asaduddin Owaisi by name, the current MP and President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Shah said, “For 40 years, the representatives of Razakars sat there (Parliament). But you have an opportunity this time, so elect Madhavi Latha by a huge majority.”
The Razakars were paramilitary volunteers who tried to help the Nizam government maintain the independence of the Hyderabad State after India gained independence in 1947. However, the Hyderabad State merged with the Indian Union on September 17, 1948, following Operation Polo, also known as ‘Police Action’.
“Vote with a free mind this time… Every voter, regardless of their religion, should press the Lotus button to bring Hyderabad into the mainstream,” appealed Shah.
The roadshow took place from Mahankali Temple in Lal Darwaza to Sudha Talkies in the Shahali Banda area. During the roadshow, Amit Shah, along with Madhavi Latha and state BJP president G. Kishan Reddy, waved at the large crowd while displaying the BJP’s poll symbol.
The Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency is considered a stronghold of the AIMIM, as the party has remained undefeated here since 1984. Asaduddin Owaisi is seeking re-election for a fifth term, following in the footsteps of his father Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, who was elected from the seat for six terms before him.
