As the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen stands at the threshold of emerging as a strong voice of the Muslim minority in the country by expanding its footprint across several States, the party has crossed an important milestone on Friday by celebrating 60th anniversary of its formation.
The party president and MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi flanked by the leaders of several State units hoisted the party flag at Majlis headquarters Darussalam in Hyderabad on Friday and addressed a massive gathering of the party workers and supporters.
Asaduddin stressed on the importance of " fundamental rights".
Majlis also celebrated the occasion in States of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen was revived by Abdul Wahed Owaisi in 1958, almost a decade after it was banned by the Government of India at the time of merger of Hyderabad into Indian union in 1948.
After Abdul Wahed Owaisi build the party from the scratch leading the Muslims from the difficult phase following the police action, the baton of leadership was passed to his Salahuddin Owaisi who through a series of electoral victories from the city Municipal Corporation and state assembly to the Parliament built the party into a
formidable organization though its base largely remained confined to the Muslim dominated pockets of the city.
After the death of his father London returned barrister Asaduddin Owaisi took the charge of the party and emerged as a forceful spokesperson on the affairs of Muslim minority at the national level.
Apart from representing Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency without interruption from 1984, the MIM today has seven members in the State Assembly and two in the legislative council. It also has two members in Maharashtra state assembly and has presence in several civic bodies in Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Though the party has traditionally been identified with the Muslim community, of late Asaduddin Owaisi has started wooing the Dalits and other weaker sections and successfully experienced the formula in Maharashtra.
Apart from a strong political party with an organized cadre, the MIM also runs a big a network of schools, colleges including a medical and an engineering college and other professional colleges in Hyderabad.
MIM’s floor leader in the state assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi was steering the party’s drive to set up similar charitable institutions in other parts of Telangana and other states.