'You hate Hyderabad': AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi reacts to BJP's Bhagyanagar promise

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in the politics of hatred,  All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday hit out at the saffron party after it had promised to rename Hyderabad to 'Bhagyanagar' if it comes to power in Telangana. 

During his poll rallies in Telangana, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that Hyderabad should be made Bhagyanagar, changing its destiny for the better, and Mahabubnagar should be re-established as Palamuru.

Union Minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy also expressed similar views. "Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath and Himanta Biswa Sarma have already said that once we come to power, we will rename Hyderabad. Madras was renamed to Chennai, Calcutta was renamed to Kolkata, Bombay was renamed to Mumbai and we renamed Rajpath to Kartavya Path. So, why should Hyderabad not be renamed? Who is Hyder?...Bhagyanagar is its old name, it was renamed during the Nizam rule. We will name it back to Bhagyanagar when we come to power," he said while asking why should the name be not changed.

‘You hate Hyderabad’: Owaisi slams BJP

In response, (AIMIM) supremo Asaduddin Owaisi asked the origin of Bhagyanagar. He also accused the BJP of hating Hyderabad.

"First, ask them where did this 'Bhagyanagar' come from? Ask him where has it been written. You hate Hyderabad that is why renaming is a symbol of that hatred. Hyderabad is our identity, how will you rename it?... They are just doing politics of hatred," the Member of Parliament said.

Owaisi also refuted the charge that AIMIM is openly supporting the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi in the Telangana Assembly elections, as many as nine candidates from his party are in the fray against the BRS.

"No, there are BRS candidates contesting against us on nine assembly seats. Wherever there isn't a candidate, we have urged the public to make 'Mamu' (KCR) the Chief Minister for the third time. So, we are contesting against them, they against us...There is nothing like that," he added.