Zee India Conclave | Narendra Modi has shattered the myth of Muslim vote bank: Asaduddin Owaisi

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Saturday assured that his party would give five more tickets to Muslim women since they came out in support of the Narendra Modi government over the issue of Triple Talaq, even as AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said Muslim vote bank is a myth and it is only a Hindu vote bank that the BJP is "exploiting".

The two leaders were part of a discussion at the Zee India Conclave. Owaisi said Modi doesn't believe in consensus politics. ''BJP does not want Muslims to come into the mainstream.'' He added, "PM Modi has broken the myth of Muslim vote bank. Muslim vote bank is a myth, Hindu vote bank is the truth.''

Rejecting the charge, Swamy said that regional and Muslim political parties were to be blamed for the plight of the community. He also admitted that political parties should bring in more Muslim candidates to Parliament.

The government has the right to interfere in religious matters, said Swamy, adding if Hindus and Muslims unite, India will become strong. On BJP's estranged ally Shiv Sena, Swamy said the alliance will remain intact despite several differences over various issues. ''Shiv Sena won't leave BJP, this I can guarantee.''

Owaisi also said that the Modi wave is "fading" in the country which is "evident" from its defeat in the recent Lok Sabha bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh. The two leaders also touched upon various issues including poverty, development, rising unemployment, and terrorism.