HYDERABAD: As one walks into the chambers of the newly-elected Mayor, Mohammed Majid Hussain, one cannot but take note of the absence of three framed photographs -- that of President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. Instead, the walls are adorned with former MIM president the late Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi and his sons, MP Asaduddin Owaisi and MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi.
As Mohammed Majid Hussain took charge on Thursday, the replacement of the portraits raised several eyebrows. The mayor, though, was visibly happy. He arrived at his office in a huge procession from the MIM headquarters in Darussalam.
He also took the opportunity to set the record straight, making light of reports in a section of the media that he faces at least seven criminal cases, including that of intimidation and attempt to murder.
“I have been framed. The cases against me were booked when I went to support locals who were facing some problems,” he told City Express.
The 31-year-old further said the cases were foisted against him only after he became a corporator. “Prior to that, there were no such cases against me. As a public representative, I have to support the public when they are in problems and protect them. I cannot shy away from my responsibilities and will continue to do so whenever local people require my help,” he asserted.
Referring to one such case in Syed Nagar last year, he pointed out that a group of assailants had attacked a person. “The police registered an attempt to murder case (under Section 307 IPC) and named me as the 11th accused. But no chargesheet has been filed against me till date which means that I am not involved. At that time, I was participating in Rachabanda programme,” he clarified. Referring to another case registered at the Humayun Nagar police station last year, he said he had rushed to First Lancer when police were frisking people and checking vehicles without a reason. “I objected to the high-handed behaviour of the police for which they registered a case under section 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty) of the IPC,” he said.
In another case, the Mayor said, when a fire broke out in his division, he stopped a videographer and others from going near the site for their own safety. “But this was taken in a wrong way and a case was registered against me,” he said, insisting that he is clean.
Besides clarifying, the new mayor also unveiled some of his plans for the city. “I will make Greater Hyderabad look altogether different. But I cannot make any commitment right now,” he said.