NASRIGANJ: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of hurling “insults” at Muslims by alleging that women’s ‘mangalsutras’ and quotas for underprivileged castes are being taken away by the Hindu sphere and given to the community.
Owaisi, who is not part of the opposition alliance, spoke at an election rally in Bihar’s Karakat parliamentary constituency and vowed to ensure that Modi is not allowed to serve a third consecutive term, which would “threaten us in the name of Hindus and Muslims, temples and mosques”.
“PM Modi has said that Muslim women give birth to more children, which is a lie. He has also repeatedly said that Muslims want to reach for their ‘mangalsutra’ and has insulted the Muslim community. A true Muslim will always protect his sisters and their mangalsutra,” the Hyderabad MP said at a rally in Rohta’s Nasriganj area.
“Please vote for our sister Priyanka Chaudhary. Our party promises to ensure that the next prime minister of the country is not Narendra Modi or any other leader of the BJP,” Owaisi, who is fielding his candidate in several constituencies in the state, including Karakat, said.
He alleged that if Modi returns to power, no one will listen to the problems of the people.
“Whenever the youth raise their voice about unemployment, they would try to lift the locks (of the Ram temple). He had no qualms about hundreds of industrial parks being permanently closed down due to demonetisation,” the AIMIM leader said.
Owaisi also expressed disgust at the Prime Minister’s remark that India is engaged in “mujra” to woo Muslim voters.
“Is that the kind of language you would expect from a Wazir-e-Azam (prime minister)? Is that something you would say in front of your mother and sisters?” he asked.
He also mocked the Prime Minister’s comments that he saw himself as a man “sent by God for a purpose” and that his energy was “not biological”.
“These words reflect arrogance coming from someone who until recently was calling himself a ‘chokidar’ (guardian of the people) and a ‘sevak’ (servant of the people),” Owaisi said.
He asserted that the Agnivelu scheme demonstrates the Prime Minister’s stand on job creation.
“If he comes to power again, the government may introduce a similar four-year contractual service for paramilitary forces like CRPF, BSF and SSB,” he alleged.
Owaisi said he was hopeful that the party would perform well in Sheohar Assembly constituency, where voting took place earlier in the day, as well as in Karakat and Buxar, which will go to polls on June 1.
“In Kishanganj, Lalu Prasad was outraged and made a complaint through a video which was released before the polls,” he said.
“Laloo Prasad said that Owaisi’s party exists only to divide votes. I must say that Laloo Prasad has been cheating Muslims for years in the name of MY (Muslim Yadav) coalition. He has been using the votes of the Muslim community to ensure power for himself and his family,” he alleged.
Owaisi pointed out that the RJD, which is contesting 23 of Bihar’s 40 assembly seats, “has only found two Muslims as candidates. Prasad’s daughters are also contesting in equal numbers. This shows the party’s priorities.”
“Ever since we announced our candidate in Bihar, you have seen nominal presence of Muslims at his rallies,” Owaisi said of Prasad’s son and likely successor, Tejashwi Yadav, who has been spearheading the RJD’s election campaign.
He, however, said Muslims in the state should remember that they can not only vote but also ask for votes.
“In the next state elections, I want to prove that Bihar can have a Muslim chief minister,” he added.
“Karakat is known for its carpet industry. But the youth here must remember that it is OK to weave carpets but not OK to continue selling them to those who are seeking power,” Owaisi quipped.
Published May 25, 2024 20:23 IST
