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Salahuddin Owaisi dead

Special Correspondent

MIM veteran leader walked the old city like a colossus

Salahuddin Owaisi’s condition worsened during the last few days
The MIM leader won the Hyderabad Parliament seat for six straight terms

Salahuddin Owaisi

HYDERABAD: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president and veteran leader, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, passed away on Monday night. Mr. Owaisi, who was ailing for some time was admitted to Care Hospital in Banjara Hills on September 13 and kept on ventilator.

His condition worsened during the last few days. His sons decided to take him home with doctors terming his condition as clinically not treatable. Hundreds of party workers gathered at his Himayathnagar residence as news about his death spread.

Mr. Owaisi, 73, is survived by three sons -- Asaduddin Owaisi, a sitting Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, Akbaruddin Owaisi, MIM floor leader in the Assembly and MLA from Chandrayangutta and the youngest Burhanuddin Owaisi, who is the Chief Editor of Etemaad, an Urdu daily from twin cities, and a daughter.

Reverentially called “Salar”, the stormy petrel of MIM walked the old city like a colossus, commanding blind following. He held a record of sorts in winning the Hyderabad Parliament seat for six straight terms right from 1984. Before that, he represented the Charminar constituency in the Assembly for 22 years between 1962 and 1984. Mr. Owaisi and his party has always been in the eye of a storm. Boon to some, anathema to others, the Majlis is adored by lakhs and vilified by as many. Whenever communal riots broke out, the Majlis found itself in the focal point of a brewing maelstrom. He also faced a bitter smear campaign over the Babri Masjid demolition.

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