Hyderabad, March 28: With Andhra Pradesh heading for simultaneous elections to state Assembly and Lok Sabha on May 13, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is trying to woo Muslim voters.
During his visit to his home constituency Kuppam in Chittoor district, Kadiri in Anantapur district and some other towns in Rayalaseema region with sizable Muslim population as part of the ongoing campaign, he attended Iftar parties with local Muslims.
As TDP has joined hands with BJP and also Jana Sena of actor Pawan Kalyan, Naidu is trying to assure Muslims that if voted to power, TDP will remain committed to their welfare. He is explaining to people that he had to join hands with BJP once again in the larger interest of the state.
Naidu said that three parties formed an alliance for the future of the state. He assured that he will not allow injustice to Muslims as long as he is the chief minister.
At Kuppam, Naidu claimed that for 40 years TDP gave priority to Muslims. “TDP is the only party which did justice to Muslims,” he said.
Listing out the schemes implemented by TDP during its rule in the past, the TDP chief is promising to introduce more schemes.
Naidu recalled that TDP made Urdu second official language in 13 districts in united Andhra Pradesh.
Since Muslims have a large number of poor, for the first time in the country N.T. Rama Rao constituted a minority corporation in 1985 and allocated funds. He also mentioned that it was during TDP rule that Haj House was built in Hyderabad to facilitate smooth travel for Haj pilgrims from the state.
After bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Haj House construction was taken up in Kadapa and Vijayawada and 90 percent of the work was completed but the present YSRCP government did not complete them, he said.
Naidu also mentioned that it was his government that established Urdu University in Hyderabad in united Andhra Pradesh. After bifurcation, a separate Urdu university was set up in Kurnool. He said 10 lakh Muslims were given Ramadan tohfa and the TDP government Dukan Makan and Dulhan schemes. Under the Dulhan scheme Rs.165 crore was given to 33,000 families for the marriage of girls. A total of 527 minority students were sent abroad under the overseas education scheme. He alleged that the present government has not given financial assistance to anyone.
Naidu said his government had introduced an honorarium system for Muezzins and Imams.
