Smriti Irani seeks probe into Rohingyas finding way into voter lists

Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service
Hyderabad, November 25

Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani has demanded an inquiry into charges that the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has got Rohingyas enrolled in the voters list.

During a day visit to Hyderabad today, she said the matter came to light when some of the Rohingyas thanked the AIMIM for helping them get in the mainstream.

“The AIMIM trying to weaken the country from inside by helping illegal immigrants register in voters list depriving social benefits to true citizens of the country. It is the duty of the Telangana government to get the issue thoroughly inquired and action taken against all found guilty,” she said at the BJP office at Nampally today.  

Quoting local news channels, she said the reports had pointed out that AIMIM leaders have enrolled the Rohingyas in voters list by providing them recommendation letters on their official letterheads.  

“As this is a State subject the TRS government must investigate the reports,” she said, countering the allegation of the Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi who has said, “Home Minister Amit Shah should have taken action if illegal immigrants found a way into the voters list”.

Calling upon the voters of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) where polls for 150 divisions will take place on December 1 and results announced on December 5, she said, “The convenient and corrupt collaboration of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and its ally AIMIM has deprived the old city of development but they try to benefit from the illegal voters. The alliance has bled the coffers of the city. The alliance between the two parties resulted in 75,000 encroachments that led to the recent deluge.”  

The Union minister accused TRS for not implementing some centrally sponsored welfare programmes such as Ayushman Bharat in Telangana.

“From the Textile Ministry alone, Telangana was given Rs 1920 crore for textile development in the state and 63,000 young men and women were imparted skill development training out of which 10,000 found employment,” she added.