As the Mulki Movement intensified, the government responded by forming a Ministerial Sub-Committee on September 7, 1952, to examine the Mulki Rules and propose necessary revisions.

Composition of the Ministerial Sub-Committee

The committee included prominent leaders such as Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy, Phoolchand Gandhi, Dr. Melkote, and Nawazjung. Their mandate was to analyze employment policies and address the concerns of local Mulkis regarding the recruitment of non-Mulkis in government jobs.

Use of Preventive Detention to Suppress Protests

As the movement gained momentum, the government resorted to stringent measures to suppress dissent. On September 13, 1952, Sayyad Akthar Hussain, the editor of the Urdu newspaper ‘Aavaadh’, was arrested under the Preventive Detention (PD) Act for his alleged role in supporting the Mulki agitation. Additionally, journalist Begum Sadiq Jahan was also detained, highlighting the government’s crackdown on media voices advocating for the movement.

Impact of the Committee and Arrests

The formation of the Ministerial Sub-Committee was an attempt to pacify the unrest, but failed to curb public resentment as protests continued across the state. The arrest of journalists further escalated tensions, as it was seen as an effort to silence voices supporting the Mulki cause rather than addressing legitimate demands.

The Mulki Movement continued to evolve, with growing pressure on the government to implement stricter employment regulations that would prioritize local candidates over non-Mulkis in state administration.