Hyderabad: AIMIM, MBT ask CM for trained elephant for Muharram, Bonalu

Owaisi and MBT urge Telangana govt to purchase and train elephants for city processions, avoiding yearly logistical hassles.

Hyderabad: The All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), president and Hyderabad Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi, asked the Telangana government to arrange a trained elephant permanently for religious processions in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Letter to Telangana CM

In a letter to the chief minister of Telangana, A Revanth Reddy, the AIMIM party president said that in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, many religious processions are held every year on different dates.

“Trained elephants are used in these religious processions like Muharram, Bonalu, Gyarvi Shareef, etc. There used to be a trained elephant available in Telangana state, which was utilised during these processions. But since the death of the elephant, there is no trained elephant in Telangana. Every year, during these occasions, a trained elephant needs to be arranged from other states, which is causing a lot of hurdles and inconvenience,” Asaduddin Owaisi said.

Elephants being brought from other states

During the Bonalu and Muharram procession, the organisers are bringing elephants from other states to participate in the Muharram procession.

The participation of elephants in the procession is an age-old practice in Bonalu and Muharram processions in Hyderabad.

MBT also raises request

The Majlis Bachao Tehreek party spokesperson, Amjedullah Khan, also requested the government of Telangana to buy two elephants for Bibi ka Alam procession during Muharram.

In a letter to chief minister A Revanth Reddy, the MBT party said hundreds of people from all over India come to Hyderabad to participate in Bibi ka Alam procession. To carry the Bibi ka Alam, the Telangana government hires elephants from other States like Maharashtra and Karnataka.

“To transport the elephant from other States, a lot of problems are being face,d and the elephant brought is not trained to walk carrying the Bibi ka Alam, and due to it, the police department is facing a lot of problems in the procession management,” said Amjedullah Khan.

He demanded that the government immediately buy two elephants and train them for carrying Bibi ka Alam, and the elephants can be used for other processions as well.