Watch video: MIM is a ‘Paise Walo Ki Party, no place for poor’, says Shabbir Ali

Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has accused the MIM leadership of deliberately neglecting the backwardness in the Old City of Hyderabad.

Addressing a series of corner meetings in Doodh Bowli, Ghansi Bazar, Pathergatti and Puranapul divisions here on Wednesday, Shabbir Ali said despite having the flexible policy of aligning with the party-in-power, the MIM leadership never bothered about resolving the problems being faced by the people in the Old City. “MIM leaders have turned into millionaires during the last few decades. But the people who voted them to power are still poor with most of them working as rickshawala, vendors or daily wages earners,” he said.

Shabbir Ali said MIM leaders objected to every move which was aimed at development of Old City. “Right from expansion of roads to Metro Rail in the Old City, MIM objected to every developmental project. They never wanted economic prosperity of people living in this part of the city. Government schools and colleges were systematically closed. Urdu schools were also neglected and closed. All public hospitals, including famous Charminar Hospital, were put to neglect. They even failed to regularise the services of Makkah Masjid employees and the staff does not even get their salaries on time. They wanted every hand in the Old City to move with a begging bowl. The concept of accountability never existed and they used force to suppress any kind of criticism or opposition,” he said. However, he said that the Congress party’s entry has triggered a new wave of change in Old City.