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Hyderabad: Former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin, who took oath as a cabinet minister in Telangana on Friday, said he does not need a certificate of patriotism from anyone.
Stating that his induction into the cabinet has nothing to do with the by-election to Jubilee Hills assembly constituency, he said he is not bothered about what some people are saying about him.
After taking the oath, he told media persons, “They can say anything. I can’t go to talk about them. I don’t need anyone’s certificate on my patriotism.”
Azharuddin was reacting to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy’s comment that it was a matter of shame that just before the Jubilee Hills by-election, the Congress government was giving a ministerial post to a person who has been involved in several cases to tarnish the prestige and honor of the country.
Azharuddin also commented that Kishan Reddy has no idea about him. He said, “I am a different kind of person. They have been talking about me for a long time. It doesn’t matter to me. I know what I am, what I have done for India and how patriotic I am. I don’t need anyone’s certificate.”
Former MP Azharuddin said that he is happy to be made a minister. He thanked the Congress party high command, especially AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. He also thanked AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
The Congress leader said there is no connection between his becoming a minister and the Jubilee Hills by-election. He commented, “This is the prerogative of the government.”
The former cricketer said that whatever portfolio is given to him, he will accept it and will fulfill his responsibilities with honesty and integrity. He also promised to work for the deprived sections of the community.
Azharuddin, who unsuccessfully contested Jubilee Hills in 2023, refused to answer questions about the bypoll. He said that he will talk about this in the assembly constituency.
–IANS