Hyderabad Mayor earns MIM’s wrath

HYDERABAD: Certain controversial remarks allegedly made by GHMC Mayor Banda Karthika Reddy a few days ago snowballed into a major issue on Monday with a large group of AIMIM corporators and their supporters barging into the Mayor’s chambers demanding her resignation from the post.

The protestors staged a demonstration at the chambers and later burnt her effigy for the alleged remarks. The Mayor’s absence from the chambers, prevented the issue from escalating.

At the All-India Dharma Prachara Samithi meeting of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) held in the city recently, with VHP International Secretary General Praveen Bhai Togadia in attendance, Karthika Reddy reportedly remarked that `Hindustan Hindu Desh Hai’ (India is a Hindu country) triggering the angry protests from the MIM.

Around 3.30 pm, about a dozen corporators led by MIM floor leader in the GHMC Mirza Mustafa Baig, and their supporters arrived at GHMC head office with MIM flags, placards and flex banners.

Pushing aside the security personnel at the entrance, they barged in. They went straight to the Mayor’s chambers and started shouting slogans, `Saffron Mayor down down’. They kept flex banners and MIM flags in the Mayor’s seat and demanded that she should resign immediately as she got elected unanimously with MIM support.

Later, speaking to reporters, Mustafa Baig said that MIM would not rest till Karthika Reddy resigned and a new Mayoral candidate was announced. She had insulted Muslims with her remarks, he said.

“Being a Mayor, how can she make such controversial statements. She is acting as a saffron Mayor,’’ Baig said.

The Mayor could not be reached for her reaction.

expresshyd@expressbuzz.com