Hyderabad:
The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) today said that it is withdrawing support from the Kiran Kumar Reddy-led Congress government in Andhra Pradesh.
MIM chief and its lone MP Asaduddin Owaisi announced the decision of the party's executive.
Addressing a news conference, Mr Owaisi said his party was compelled to take the decision due to what he said was the communal behaviour of the Reddy government.
The Hyderabad MP said his party was ready for the political consequences of the decision.
The seven-member MIM, which extends support to the government from outside, is angry over certain work being allowed to be taken up at the temple at Charminar.
Giving a detailed account of communal riots in the state and Hyderabad since 2010, he alleged that the Congress government not only turned a blind eye to MIM's demands but pandered to the Sangh Parivar.
"Our support to Congress was from 1998 and our party played a very major and important role. It was because of the support of Muslims. We have suffered a lot during BJP alliance and as a result, everybody supported Congress. When then communal riots took place, 169 Muslims were arrested in that. We are demanding the present Chief Minister to let go the innocent but the government did not respond to it," Mr Owaisi said.
The MIM has seven members in the 295-member assembly and its support is crucial for the survival of the Congress government, which has a narrow majority.
MIM's decision came after the government allowed erection of a canopy over a temple abutting the historic Charminar in alleged violation of court orders to maintain status quo.
(With inputs from IANS)