Owaisi slams BJP, alleges Muslims harassed in UP

PRAYAGRAJ, September 26 (HS): Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi, National President of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) arrived in Prayagraj on Saturday and addressed a public meeting at Majidia Islamia Inter College, Atala. Some Hindu organizations tried to prevent Owaisi’s convoy from moving ahead but their attempt to vitiate atmosphere was foiled by alert administrative officials, who immediately intervened to prevent the issue from blowing out of proportion.

During the rally, Owaisi stated that “defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is his party’s major priority.” ?Political representation, according to Owaisi, is the key to the constitutional rights specified by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in the Indian Constitution, which, he claims, justifies the use of the term “Muslimeen” in his party’s name. “Our principal goal and ambition is to ensure that our candidates win the upcoming Assembly elections. The second goal is to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The terms “kingmaker” has no meaning “, he stated.

While remaining mum on the state’s anticipated coalition, the Hyderabad MP stated that the choice would be made after the election results. On the candidature of jailed former MP Atiq Ahmad, Owaisi questioned why no fingers were pointed at the 37 BJP MLAs who are purportedly facing criminal charges. “How many of these are Muslims?” Owaisi asked, referring to the Yogi Adityanath government’s withdrawal of 77 cases related to the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.

A five-time legislator and one-time MP, Ahmad has more than 90 criminal cases, including those related to murder against him. He is lodged in a Gujarat jail. He was shifted there from Uttar Pradesh on the Supreme Court?s directions in 2019. Defending his decision to induct Ahmad, who has several criminal cases lodged against him, Owaisi asserted that even several BJP leaders face similar cases. ?In UP, 37% of BJP MLAs have criminal cases; 116 BJP MPs have serious criminal cases and most of them have cases related to crime against women,? Owaisi said.

Owaisi reiterated his statements made during his campaigns in Uttar Pradesh, claiming that the state has a 19% Muslim population that is not represented by mainstream parties such as the BJP, Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and others. “In Uttar Pradesh, each community has its own voice and leaders but Muslim representation is still a far cry,? he added. .

He also came down heavily on successive governments led by the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress for the poor plight of Muslims in the state.

According to Owaisi, the AIMIM is willing to discuss a pre-poll coalition with the SP or BSP, but the discussion will focus on the Muslim community’s share of power if the alliance wins power in Uttar Pradesh. ?Muslims make up 19 percent of the population of Uttar Pradesh, whereas Yadav community leaders make up only 9% of the population. But still Muslims are denied positions in the government whenever Samajwadi Party comes to power,? he said. ?In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are persecuted and exploited. They have been denied access to electricity, education, and basic services. They’ve been cheated out of justice. The Muslim minority in Uttar Pradesh is without a leader, and no political party is interested in addressing their complaints. Political parties have a vested stake in the outcome of the election. They only vie to get Muslim votes during polls and after coming to power, the community is left on the lurch.

?The Muslim community believed the SP, BSP, and Congress when they made false promises. Their leaders got prime minister and chief minister as a result of Muslim backing. Today, Muslims in Uttar Pradesh are feeling betrayed, as parties seeking their votes in the name of secularism have abandoned them,? said the four-time Lok Sabha MP before signing off.

Later, former MP Atiq Ahmed’s wife Shaista Parveen read his message and appeal for the people. Atiq’s younger son Ali Atiq Ahmed also spoke during the rally. State President Shaukat Ali, Israr Ahmed, Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, UP AIMIM legal cell chief, advocate, Arif Iqbal, district president, Mohammad Shah Alam and party spokesperson, Afsar Mahmood also addressed the gathering.