CM should have consulted MIM over temple row: Nagender

Labour Minister Danam Nagender on Wednesday blamed Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for taking unilateral decisions that forced the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen to withdraw support to the Congress Government in the State.

In an informal chat with reporters at Gandhi Bhavan, Nagender said that the Chief Minister could have easily avoided a confrontation by speaking to MIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi over the temple issue. Before allowing the local authorities to erect tarpaulin over the Bhagyalakshmi Temple, the Chief Minister should have consulted Owaisi to take him into confidence. However, he expressed confidence that the MIM would revoke its decision.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, Nagender said that the talks were still on with the MIM leadership and efforts were being made to convince Asaduddin Owaisi to restore his ties with the Congress party. Defending the Chief Minister, he said that the temple abutting Charminar existed for a long time and Kiran Kumar Reddy only ensure that the High Court orders were properly implemented.

Stating that it was wrong to brand the Chief Minister as communal, Nagender held Bharatiya Janata Party responsible for the recent communal disturbances in the city.