By Syed Zainulabedin,
Hyderabad: Apparently in his first interview to a regional channel outside Hyderabad, Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Supremo and Hyderabad MP Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi outlined his plans to strengthen his party MIM base and cadre in Maharashtra by touring several parts of the state and create ‘political awareness’ among Muslims.
In a 25 minute exclusive interview to Preeti Sampora on TV 9’s Marathi channel, Owaisi said his MIM is a registered in and recognized party by Election Commission of India, and hence it is entitled to take part in electoral politics anywhere in the country. To a question he admitted that making a political base in a different state is not easy. It will take some time for his party in this region. All parties, whether Shiv Sena or BJP or Congress, they all have struggled for years to make their presence felt, he said. We will do the same although we have party units in some cities and towns of this state those includes Nanded, Latur, Osmanabad. His goal is to bring more and more people to polling stations as they are the real king makers.
Asaduddin Owaisi
On the question of cancellation of his public meeting and banning his entry to Aurangabad by the police, he said the local people had gone to court and he will follow them and challenge the police orders. It is the violation of his right of freedom of movement and speech given under the article 19.
When asked did he contact the Chief Minister after the police denial of permission, Asaduddin Owaisi said, that he did not contact him. “I believe in judiciary and democracy and certainly will go to court and to the public to get justice and hope the court will hear my plea.” Owaisi remarked.
He wondered and asked how the Aurangabad Police came to conclusion that with his visit to city there will be a law and order problem. I have been to Maharashtra many times in and no untoward incident happened. Even in Nizamabad and Adilabad, where his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi is being alleged to delivered hate speeches, not a single incident of stone pelting took place. The Congress government is misusing its powers and putting hurdles for his party.
He didn’t divulge his strategy for the 2014 elections but reiterated his party decision to do its best in blocking BJP led NDA to come to power at center and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to become Prime Minister. “Who knows what people wants and it will depend who got the most numbers.” MIM president said and added that it’s premature to say with which party sails after the 2014 elections. He further said if BJP comes to power let it happens once so we could know what the people of this country wants, a secular government or a government with communal agenda.
Hyderabad MP said that his brother and MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi has become the victim of a conspiracy hatched by BJP and Congress government in Andhra Pradesh. Hype was created by media and I believe that court will decide if he is guilty or not. A person is innocent until he proved guilty but unfortunately our media accuse a person, run the trial and found him guilty on its own.
Replying to a particular question Owaisi denied his brother praise the hanged Ajmal Kasab and said in fact he welcomed the hanging as killed innocent person and among them were a newly married Muslim woman on a honeymoon trip from Nizamabad at the VT station that fateful day.
If you go with the record Akbaruddin Owaisi just asked why there is no justice to Ahsan Jaffery who is running pillar to post to get convicted the people who killed her husband in Gujarat 10 years ago. He said he, his brother and his party MIM have nothing to do with Pakistan. “We are Indian, we were born and raise here, our fore fathers decided to stay in India and we accept their decision,” he declared. But at the same time we have concern for Pakistan as it is our neighbor and we want to have cordial and friendly relations with all our neighbors. As a Member of Parliament I took the oath in the name of Allah and the Constitution of India and how can be we against our country, he asked.
He said his party is not against Hindus and adds that MIM has more OBCs as corporators in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. During 1984- 89 MIM had three Hindu Mayors. We never spoke against Hindus contrary to those who tell Muslims to go back Pakistan. He said that his oppositions is against Hindutva forces alone and not with all Hindus. He also wondered why the Maharashtra government has not implemented Sri Krishna Commission report on Bombay riots.