HYDERABAD: The great grandson of erstwhile
Nizam
VII,
Mir Osman Ali Khan
, has written to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi urging him to restrain BJP leaders from dragging the name of the last ruler of the princely state of Hyderabad in the mud during elections.
Ahead of Huzurabad bypoll on October 30, Nizam's great grandson Himayat Ali
Mirza has also written to the Election Commission to issue instructions to political parties against the alleged misuse of the Nizam's name for political and electoral benefits. He said he will approach the high court as the Nizam's name is "maligned during every election" in Telangana for votes. He found fault with some leaders for using the name, Nizam, as a generic term for villain-hood to denigrate political opponents.
Mirza, who is the grandson of
Moazzam Jah
, the second son of
Mir Osman
Ali Khan, told TOI that he had also sent representation to Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president
J P Nadda requesting them to advise party leaders to not drag the Nizam’s name in public meetings and election rallies.
My great grandfather died long ago. He was not part of any political party. The Huzurabad byelection is a fight among BJP, TRS, Congress and others. Let them fight the poll on public issues and win it. Why should one drag the name of the Nizam, who has nothing to do with present-day politics?” he wondered.
Mirza’s appeal comes in the wake of increasing efforts by some politicians to project the Nizam as a villain. He feared that the Nizam’s vilification will continue well into the campaign for Telangana state assembly polls in 2023 and the general elections in 2024.
"When India became the Republic on January 26, 1950, the Government of India appointed him as the Raj Pramukh or governor of Hyderabad state. The Nizam held a constitutional post and no political party or politician can talk bad about him," Mirza said. He said there was not a single criminal case against the Nizam.
He added that while former rulers are held in high esteem in other states, some politicians in Telangana are spreading falsehood about the Nizam, who is credited with banning capital punishment and separating the judiciary from the executive.
"The Nizam saw Hindus and Muslims as his two eyes. He was the largest donor of grants to places of worship of all faiths. The Nizam gave special paid leave for employees visiting pilgrim centres like Banaras," Mirza said.
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Read MoreSyed Akbar is a senior journalist from Hyderabad. He is a specialist-journalist in science, technology, health, politics, environment, development, wildlife, religion, communities, and consumer affairs. He has been in the profession for the last 24 years. Before joining The Times of India, he worked with Deccan Chronicle and Indian Express.
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