BJP accuses MIM of pursuing 'politics of blackmail'

The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, which withdrew support from the ruling Congress government in Andhra Pradesh on Monday, of pursuing a politics of blackmail and adopting undemocratic methods.
 
State BJP president G Kishan Reddy refuted MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi's allegation of connivance between the Congress government and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh – Bharatiya Janata Party combine.

"It is all false propaganda. There is no truth in the allegation that the government was acting in favour of RSS and the BJP. On the other hand, the Congress and the MIM have been friends for a long time," he said.
 
Kishan Reddy alleged that by coming in the way of the renovation of the temple at Charminar monument, MIM was trying to hamper communal peace. He alleged that there could be other reasons for the MIM turning against Congress party.
 
Meanwhile, tension and curfew-like situation continued to prevail in the old city of Hyderabad and police forced shops to down their shutters early. An eerie silence prevailed in the normally busy area around Charminar.
 
The police also arrested leaders and activists of some right-wing organisation, including religious leader Paripurnananda Swamy, when they tried to take out a rally towards the temple at Charminar. 
 
Bhagwant Rao, the convenor of Bhagyalakshmi Temple Protection Committee, alleged that the police did not allow people to visit the temple and perform puja.