Hyderabad: BRS leader Shaik Abdullah Sohail on Tuesday accused the Congress government of insulting the Muslim community in Jubilee Hills by making and breaking promises over graveyard land. He called the episode a deliberate betrayal that hurt community sentiment.
Speaking at a press conference, Sohail said both recent land announcements by Congress leaders for a Muslim qabarastan turned out to be false. He described the situation as a “cruel mirage” and said it exposed the government’s indifference.
Army reclaims land after Congress announcement
Sohail criticised Congress leaders for announcing 2,500 square yards in Alkapur for the graveyard. Within just four hours, he said, the Indian Army arrived and reclaimed the land, claiming it was under their control. “What greater humiliation can the Muslims of Jubilee Hills face?” he asked.
He explained that five local committees from Vengalrao Nagar, Rahmat Nagar, Borabanda, Yousufguda, and Erragadda have been demanding graveyard access for years. Despite this, Congress made no effort to consult them or check the site before making a public statement.
No official response, no explanation
Sohail said no minister or official tried to contact the Army afterward. “They didn’t even make a phone call,” he said, adding that the silence showed the government’s neglect. He pointed out that an existing qabarastan in Erragadda, measuring over 7,000 square yards, had long been blocked due to lack of access.
“The land is there, but there’s no road. Even 12 years ago, when a former MLA tried to open a road, supporting officers were transferred,” he recalled.
Revanth Reddy’s politics questioned
He accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of stoking division to polarise Muslim voters. Sohail claimed that the Congress leader’s real aim was to weaken the Muslim vote and indirectly help the BJP.
He also slammed the state’s sudden use of bulldozers to clear a path to the graveyard without consulting local residents. “This wasn’t about helping. It was about showing power,” he said, warning that such actions only increase tension and distrust.
Call for unity, promise of resolution
Sohail appealed to residents to stay calm and united. He said the Congress had turned a deeply sensitive issue into a political stunt. “They made promises twice. Both times the land disappeared. This isn’t leadership it’s mockery,” he said.
He urged voters to reject what he called divisive politics and support the BRS in the November 11 by-election. “KCR will personally resolve this matter if BRS returns,” he promised.
“They turned our qabarastan demand into a spectacle. On November 11, we will turn their arrogance into defeat,” Sohail declared.
