Minorities struggle for home

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Hyderabad: Religion-based discrimination continues to be a major issue in the Twin Cities, especially while renting or selling properties. Recently Abid Ali Mohammed, an NRI, complained of being discriminated against when he approached a few builders to purchase property.
“I came to Hyderabad in  July end to purchase a flat for my parents who live with my sister in Nacharam. I approached five different builders in various locations in Nacharam but they openly refused to rent or sell flats after they heard my name. One builder, who even finalised the amount and was ready to sell a two-bedroom flat, flatly rejected once he realised that I was a minority. A sixth builder is ready to sell a flat but the price is beyond my budget,” said Mohammed.
“The flat owners have strictly ordered brokers and security personnel at apartments not to show the properties to Muslims or bachelors. I am now going back disappointed. My parents are left with no choice but to live with my sister,” he said.
Only areas like Musheerabad, Mehdipatnam, Toli Chowki, Masab Tank etc. are left where there are no such restrictions for minorities to purchase properties, said sources.
Maria Francina who also faced the same situation said, “I approached a newly-built apartment at Lane no. 8 in Chilkalguda. The watchman asked me if I was a Brahmin and when I said no, he refused to even show me the flat as the owners had asked him to allow only Brahmins to view the property.”
Few options for minorities moving out of the old city
Minorities moving out of the old city or areas where the community is present in large numbers have no other choice but to purchase properties in areas where there are no self-made rules barring them. Often even Christians are denied flats for rent. Muslims are at the receiving end of this practice most of the time while many apartment owners only rent out houses to Brahmins.
Monisha Sharma, a corporate employee said, “I have had Muslim tenants for 10 years. There has never been a problem with them. They are very decent. They keep the house neat and tidy and even undertake minor repairs without waiting for us to do them. I spent my childhood with many Muslim friends in Masab Tank and I even learnt to speak Urdu. There are good and bad people in all communities. Keeping away from people just because they are of a different religion makes no sense.”