BJP leaders spewed venom against Muslims in first 100 days: Akbaruddin Owaisi

Launching the poll campaign for the Maharashtra assembly election, the All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen’s (AIMIM) controversial leader Akbaruddin Owaisi attacked the Modi government’s 100 days, saying that the BJP leaders only spew venom against the Muslims during these 100 days.

“I don’t want to comment on the kind of work done by the Modi government in 100 days. But, whenever the BJP leaders spoke during these days, they only spew venom against Muslims that include love-jihad, making India as Hindu nation with others,” said Owaisi, while addressing a gathering of over 5000 people in Mumbai. He also remarked that while Modi wished the Japanese people, he did not wish the Muslims during the Muslim festivals.

“I wonder in which era Yogi Adityanath lives. During the Mogul rule, Jodha, a Hindu girl, was accepted by the Muslims as their daughter in law. So, this love between Hindu and Muslims is there since then. Then, what is the connection between love and Jihad?” asked Owaisi.

Attacking the BJP’s ‘Hindu’ agenda, Owaisi said, “The BJP demolished the Babri Masjid. At the time of Babri Masjid demolition, though the then PM Narsimha Rao was Congress leader, he actually had nexus with RSS. Now, it (RSS) wants to make India a ‘Hindu’ nation. But, we will not leave Babri Masjid issue and will fight the legal battle. Soon, we will construct the Babri Masjid and will also claim Kashi and Mathura as well,” he said.

The AIMIM has 13 councilors in the Nanded municipal corporation, including a Dalit member. Now, the AIMIM plans to contest the Maharashtra assembly election and is projecting itself as a champion of Muslims and Dalits, which is likely to make a dent in the Congress, NCP and Samajwadi Party’s vote bank. The AIMIM is likely to field 10 candidates in Mumbai-Thane region, say party leaders.

“We are not here to divide the Muslim community in Maharashtra. Also, we don’t want to help the Sena-BJP in the elections. But, we are here to fight for the rights of the Muslims and to safeguard the community’s interests,” said Owaisi, adding that even though the Muslims had voted for all secular parties including Congress, SP and others in the last six decades, there has been no change in the community’s social, economical and educational status. He also raised the issue of deaths of Muslim boys in police custody in Maharashtra.

The Congress and Samajwadi Party are wary of the AIMIM’s entry into Maharashtra politics. In the last month, the head of the minority cell of Mumbai Congress unit wrote to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, urging him to take measures to stop the AIMIM from contesting the assembly elections in Maharashtra. The minority cell opposed the AIMIM’s entry in Maharashtra politics stating that the division of Muslim votes would ultimately help the saffron combine in the state assembly election.

However, the SP has proposed an alliance with congress-NCP to avoid the division of Muslim votes but the congress-NCP is yet to take a call on it.

Political observers say that the AIMIM’s entry would affect chances of SP than the Congress as the many Muslims who have been traditionally voting for the SP may be attracted towards AIMIM due to its fundamental stand.