Hyderabad: Telangana’s Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy asserted that Telangana under the Congress government has emerged as a model state for communal harmony.
While reviewing arrangements for the annual Urs celebrations of Hazrath Sayyad Mohiuddin Shaheed and Hazrath Sayyad Jan Paak Shaheed, the minister highlighted the state’s legacy of peace and inclusivity.
Telangana State Wakf Board Chairman Syed Azmatullah Hussaini, Miryalguda MLA B. Lakshma Reddy, and other senior leaders accompanied him during the review.
Uttam Kumar Reddy contrasted Telangana’s ethos with the growing intolerance in BJP-ruled states. He criticised the RSS’ attempts to stoke controversies around religious places, such as Ajmer Dargah, and praised Telangana’s commitment to celebrating the syncretic traditions of Sufi saints.
He invoked the “Jai Bapu, Jai Bheem, and Jai Samvidhan” movement initiated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, stressing how the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar continue to guide Telangana’s governance.
“Mahatma Gandhi’s secular vision and Ambedkar’s Constitution have ensured the protection of rights for every individual, regardless of religion, caste, or region,” he remarked.
Highlighting his personal connection to Jan Pahad Saidulu Dargah, Uttam Kumar Reddy noted that the shrine is revered by people of all faiths.
The minister also spoke about his contributions to the development of the Dargah. During his earlier tenure as a minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh, he allocated Rs.60 lakh from constituency development funds for the Dargah’s improvement.
After the formation of Telangana, as a state minister, Uttam Kumar Reddy sanctioned an additional Rs.1.11 crore for further development.
Wakf Board Chairman Syed Azmatullah Hussaini revealed that the state government has sanctioned Rs.30 lakh for this year’s Urs, a significant increase from the Rs.12 lakh allocated by the previous BRS government.
