MIM Withdraws Support To Andhra Government

The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party of Hyderabad on Monday withdrew support to the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh accusing the ruling congress party of high handedness on temple renovation issue at adjacent to India's heritage structure Charminar here in Hyderabad. MIM has seven MLAs and one MP in the current Andhra Pradesh's assembly. Asaduddin Owaisi also claimed that on Sunday after the arrest of 5 MIM MLA's their mobile phone connections were disconnected as well. MIM has 7 MLA's in Andhra Pradesh's Assembly .

Meanwhile, an uneasy calm settled over the old city of Hyderabad on Monday, a day after leaders of the MIM protested and were subsequently arrested over a temple controversy. With tension still palpable in the usually busy areas around historic Charminar and in the interior areas, RTC suspended all its bus services to old city of Hyderabad. RTC officials said 157 services were cancelled as a precautionary measure. A curfew like situation prevailed in the usually busy markets around Charminar. All schools and colleges declared a holiday. Police said the situation remained peaceful. No untoward incident was reported overnight.

The MIM accused the ruling party of high handedness on temple renovation issue at Charminar in Hyderabad. Police remained on high alert in view of the reported plans by some groups to take out a rally to Bhagyalakshmi Temple abutting Charminar. Armed policemen were seen patrolling the streets in communally sensitive localities. Trouble broke out Sunday after MIM legislators were arrested when they staged a protest in the surrounding areas of Charminar over erection of a canopy on the temple structure adjacent to Charminar. 

They alleged that the court orders to maintain status quo at the temple were violated. Eight legislators and several other party activists were arrested. The arrests sparked violent protests in some parts of the old city.

Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma Sunday night clarified that the temple committed was allowed to cover the temple structure with tarpaulin sheets after Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said the structure had the covers as on October 30. Stone pelting was reported from various places in old city on Sunday and police retaliated by firing tear gas shells on protestors.

   

A press conference held at 12 Noon on monday in connection with declaration of withdraw support to UPA Government and state governement. during this unknown persons attacked andhra jyothi reporter and burn media vehicle. 4 shops were burnt,lot of two wheelers were damaged.Police surrounded areas leading to darussalam and created a situation like yesterday at charminar.To disperse MIM supporters police lathi chargeg and heavy force was deployed at darussalam area.

Now ruling congress government may fall off from majority as many of its existing MLA's are already in plans to shift to Jagan's YSR party and Telangana's KCR party . It will be interesting how will the congress government survive now. Congress which was delaying decision on Telangana will be compelled to take a decision favourably on Telangana to save their position in atleast telangana region . Also it will be interesting to see how Chief Minister of Andhra will respond to self created situation here.

Hyderabad News : Curfew Imposed

Old city area of Hyderabad witnessed communal violence and as result curfew has been imposed in the Charminar and its surrounding areas since 19:00 IST of 29 th March 2010 . More than 1000 security personnels have been deployed to control the rioters. Government assured that situation will be brought under control at the earliest and if required more forces will be deployed.

List of Areas of Old City were curfew has been imposed are as follows:

1. Kalapathar
2. Moghalpura
3. Bhavani Nagar
4. Charminar
5. Chandrayangutta
6. Santosh Nagar
7. Kanchanbagh
8. Falaknuma
9. Dabeerpura
10. Chatrinaka
11. Hussainialam
12. Meerchowk
13. Kamatipura
14. Rein Bazar
15. Madanapet
16. Saidabad
17. Bahadurpura

Violence began at around 22:00 IST on 27 th March 2010 among two communities when one group showed disrespect towards other community flags. After that stone pelting was observed at many places which spread in the surrounding areas. Many vehicles were burnt and glass panes of many buildings were damaged. Badly hit were the students appearing for the SSC examinations as they are not sure whether the exams will be postponed or not . MIM and BJP leaders were seen patrolling the area and try to calm down the tempers. MIM leaders Akbarudding Owaisi, Ahmed Balala , Pasha Quadri and others were seen in the riot hit areas monitoring the situation. Section 144 was imposed in the entire Hyderabad city to avoid any further problems. People are advised not to venture out unless its mandatory.

Few prominent Telangana leaders feel that this unrest started in a preplanned way to derail the Telangana movement on the grounds of communal violence.

Golconda Fort , Hyderabad

Another Famous historical and tourist spot apart from Charminar is the Golconda Fort , situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad. It is around 10 kms away from the center of the Hyderbad city. It can be reached by RTC buses , autos or prepaid cabs . It is open till 18:30 IST for visitors for entire year.

Golconda was the capital of Qutub Shahi Kingdom , constructed on top of a granite hill. Golconda was well guarded from enemies by a 10 km long walk constructed around the fort. At Fateh Darwaza meaning Victory Gate fantastic acoustic effects can be observed, this was the same gate throught which the victorious army used to return to the palace. Other place worth seeing inside the fort is the Bala Hissar where a single clap echo can be heard till a kilometer away, which acted as warning alarm for royal guards. Also worth seeing are hundreds of stairs build completely out of granite.Golconda Fort is believed that there is a secret underground tunnel which leads from the 'Durbar Hall' and ends in one of the palaces at the foot of the hill.

Have you visited Golconda Fort recently , if yes do post your comments

Charminar's History

Many of my chat friends from other countries keep asking me what is charminar ? and what is its historical significance .
The Charminar is as much the signature of Hyderabad as the Taj Mahal is of Agra or the Eiffel Tower is of Paris. It is a magnificent square edifice of granite, built upon four grand arches facing North, South, East and West. These arches support two floors of rooms and gallery of archways. At each corner of the square structure is a minaret rising to a height of 24 meters, making the building nearly 54 meters tall. It is these four (char) minarets (minar) that give the building, its name Charminar. Each minar stands on a lotus-leaf base, a special recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings. The first floor was used as a madarasa (college) during the Qutub Shahi period. The second floor has a mosque on the western side, the dome of which is visible from the road, if one stands some distance away.
A spectacular view of the city may be had from the roof of the Charminar, although, due to severe overcrowding of the minarets, only visitors with special permission from the Archaeological Survey of India, Hyderabad Circle are allowed to go to the top of the minarets. The clocks above each of the four archways were added in 1889. Walking around the Charminar area, one is constantly surprised by vestiges of the past intermingling with the present. Towards the Southeast of the Charminar is located imposing edifice of the Nizamia Unani Hospital. About 50m to the West, the line of shops in Lad Bazaar is interupted by an old, crumbling brown wall, which marks the entrance to the old Nizama?s Jilau Khana (parade ground). The grounds are now being used for the development of a large commercial complex. Further down, a road to the left leads to the Khilawat Complex (Chowmahalla Palace). The Lad Bazaar road terminates in a square called Mahaboob Chowk where a large 19th century clock-tower looms over a delicate white mosque of the same period.