Special Correspondent

Chief Minister, Telugu Desam Party president attend Owaisi family’s Urdu daily launch function

FOR ONE AND ALL: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu with the Owaisi brothers at the launch of the new Urdu daily `Etemaad’ at the Majlis party headquarters in Hyderabad on Monday. Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has urged new Urdu daily Etemaad, which was launched here on Monday, to help build a strong and secular India.

Speaking at a function here on Monday evening after handing over the first copy to Burhanuddin Owaisi, Chief Editor, Dr. Reddy underlined the importance of media in sustaining democracy.

Earlier, the daily was launched by Hazrath Shah Agha Mohammad Dawood Saheb Qibla Abul-Ulaai, Sajjada Nasheen Dargah Hazrath Shah Mohammad Hasan Sahab Qibla in the presence of Dr. Reddy, Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu and Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, president of the AIMIM, whose family owns the daily.

Referring to the title of the daily, the Chief Minister said it would bring in a lot of confidence in “everyone of us.”

Part of ethos: YSR

Urdu is spoken by a large of number of people and is part of “our ethos and culture.”

Mr. Naidu said that a free press was essential for proper functioning of democracy. Print and electronic media had become its indispensable limbs. He was confident that the daily would be a “super hit and a super success.”

Mr. Owaisi asserted that daily would try to remove ignorance among the people.

The Chief Editor said “Etemaad” would be independent and act as the voice of the poor.

Information Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir spoke.

Minorities Welfare Minister Mohd. Fareeduddin, CPI(M) floor leader N. Narasimaiah, CPI floor leader Ch. Venkata Reddy, and Moulana Mohd. Hameeduddin Hussami Aaqil, Ameer Millat Islamia, attended the function