Metro News / Hyderabad : Terming the notion of Muslim vote bank as a myth, Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi said that it has been busted during the recent general elections. He said that it had been a myth since Independence and political parties had used it to exploit Muslims across the country. He said, “There has not been a Muslim vote bank, rather a majority vote bank in the country from the first elections in the year 1956.”
Muslim vote bank has been a myth since Independence and political parties have used it to exploit Muslims across the country. There has not been a Muslim vote bank, rather a majority vote bank in the country from the first elections in the year 1956
Speaking to media about the political developments on Tuesday, he explained that Muslims of India never looked up to Muslim icons, but always chose to follow leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jay Prakash Narayan, Lalu Prasad Yadav among other secular leaders. Expressing his concern over the decrease in Muslim representation in Parliament, he said that it could not be attributed to the defeat of the Muslim vote bank. He, however, said that until and unless the percentage of Muslim representation proportionate to the population was not done, the Muslim minority would not get justice.
He stressed on the need for increase in political representation of Muslim community in the elected bodies across the country. The MIM chief criticised a section of media for targeting the party on its entry into Maharashtra politics. “Some people are unhappy with the MIM winning two Assembly seats in Maharashtra. When I am participating in the democratic process no one has the right to call me anti-national.” “When I am participating in the democratic process no one has the right to call me anti national,” he said and added that defamation notices have been sent to the political leaders of Maharashtra who made such statements against him.
Stating that the slogan of ‘Jai Bheem, Jai Meem’ would have a long-term impact, he said that the MIM would hard to unite Dalits and Muslims to ensure the political empowerment of both the communities. Clarifying on the representation in legislative institutions he said that representation of Dalits and Muslims should be of their own not of the other parties like in Uttar Pradesh where despite about 60 Muslim MLAs from Samajwadi Party, riots took place in Muzaffarnagar and they failed to stop such incidents. Asaduddin Owaisi said that though Prime Minister speaks soft, his party BJP has allegedly raked up communal tensions across the country in the name of Love Jihad.
He questioned the sanctity of appointments made by the central government at important posts referring to the recent appointment of Prasar Bharti Director Surya Prakash, who does not fulfill the criteria of Prasar Bharti charter. Replying to a query he reiterated that his party was against the Haj subsidy and instead asked the Centre to release the subsidy amount for education and employment of Muslim youth in India. About Telangana government schemes and budget for minorities, he said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao would review all the schemes every quarter and ensure that the funds are released properly.
He said that MIM has suggested to the government and Metro Rail authorities to take a different route in Old City, but did not oppose the project. He said it would be ideal if the Metro Rail is taken from Bahadurpura and Kalapather to Falaknuma. Asked how the AIMIM planned to expand in other States, Owaisi said he does not dream of becoming a national leader. “I am a street leader and I am happy with that. With my party’s participation (in other States), more confidence will be created in Muslim youth in Parliamentary democracy.
I just want to tell the Muslim youth, who are worried about communalism, about the growth of BJP, not getting their right, to come to the political process and support your party. I am not saying I would support only Muslims. Dalit and backward classes brethren are there with us. We would like to work by taking along everyone. Parties have lost their credibility. At the end of the day, it is for people to decide,” Owaisi said. He announced that his party would contest Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka. However, the party is yet to decide on its participation in Delhi and Jharkhand Assembly elections.
When asked about the GHMC elections, he said it was too early to comment on the same as the corporation was still under the process of undertaking delimitation of divisions. He condemned the TDP for using its official social networking page to tarnish the image of TRS government and Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. He said that government should have approached the court against these tactics on social media.
Muslim vote bank has been a myth since Independence and political parties have used it to exploit Muslims across the country. There has not been a Muslim vote bank, rather a majority vote bank in the country from the first elections in the year 1956
Speaking to media about the political developments on Tuesday, he explained that Muslims of India never looked up to Muslim icons, but always chose to follow leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jay Prakash Narayan, Lalu Prasad Yadav among other secular leaders. Expressing his concern over the decrease in Muslim representation in Parliament, he said that it could not be attributed to the defeat of the Muslim vote bank. He, however, said that until and unless the percentage of Muslim representation proportionate to the population was not done, the Muslim minority would not get justice. He stressed on the need for increase in political representation of Muslim community in the elected bodies across the country. The MIM chief criticised a section of media for targeting the party on its entry into Maharashtra politics. “Some people are unhappy with the MIM winning two Assembly seats in Maharashtra. When I am participating in the democratic process no one has the right to call me anti-national.” “When I am participating in the democratic process no one has the right to call me anti national,” he said and added that defamation notices have been sent to the political leaders of Maharashtra who made such statements against him.
Stating that the slogan of ‘Jai Bheem, Jai Meem’ would have a long-term impact, he said that the MIM would hard to unite Dalits and Muslims to ensure the political empowerment of both the communities. Clarifying on the representation in legislative institutions he said that representation of Dalits and Muslims should be of their own not of the other parties like in Uttar Pradesh where despite about 60 Muslim MLAs from Samajwadi Party, riots took place in Muzaffarnagar and they failed to stop such incidents. Asaduddin Owaisi said that though Prime Minister speaks soft, his party BJP has allegedly raked up communal tensions across the country in the name of Love Jihad.
He questioned the sanctity of appointments made by the central government at important posts referring to the recent appointment of Prasar Bharti Director Surya Prakash, who does not fulfill the criteria of Prasar Bharti charter. Replying to a query he reiterated that his party was against the Haj subsidy and instead asked the Centre to release the subsidy amount for education and employment of Muslim youth in India. About Telangana government schemes and budget for minorities, he said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao would review all the schemes every quarter and ensure that the funds are released properly.
He said that MIM has suggested to the government and Metro Rail authorities to take a different route in Old City, but did not oppose the project. He said it would be ideal if the Metro Rail is taken from Bahadurpura and Kalapather to Falaknuma. Asked how the AIMIM planned to expand in other States, Owaisi said he does not dream of becoming a national leader. “I am a street leader and I am happy with that. With my party’s participation (in other States), more confidence will be created in Muslim youth in Parliamentary democracy.
I just want to tell the Muslim youth, who are worried about communalism, about the growth of BJP, not getting their right, to come to the political process and support your party. I am not saying I would support only Muslims. Dalit and backward classes brethren are there with us. We would like to work by taking along everyone. Parties have lost their credibility. At the end of the day, it is for people to decide,” Owaisi said. He announced that his party would contest Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka. However, the party is yet to decide on its participation in Delhi and Jharkhand Assembly elections.
When asked about the GHMC elections, he said it was too early to comment on the same as the corporation was still under the process of undertaking delimitation of divisions. He condemned the TDP for using its official social networking page to tarnish the image of TRS government and Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. He said that government should have approached the court against these tactics on social media.
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