By Jaykishan Sharma: With an eye on Rajasthan Assembly polls, scheduled to be held later this year, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi addressed a public meeting in Jaipur on Sunday. Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the Muslims in Rajasthan are comparatively “weaker” as compared to other states.
Owaisi said that the nine Muslim MLAs in Rajasthan have been “silenced” by Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot. “In Rajasthan, these nine Muslim MLAs are not leaders but are nine gems. Ashok Gehlot has put a lock on their mouths,” Owaisi said.
The AIMIM chief alleged unfair and biased treatment towards members of the Muslim community.
“Nasir and Junaid were burned in Bharatpur, but the Chief Minister of this state barely made it there. Kanhaiya Lal’s death is condemned but what about those who killed Nasir and Junaid? Rs 50 lakh compensation was provided for Kanhaiya’s death, but only Rs 15 lakh for Nasir and Junaid,” Owaisi said.
ALSO READ | ‘Snatching pluralism, diversity’: Owaisi slams PM over Uniform Civil Code remark
There are nine Muslim MLAs in Rajasthan, but no one raises their voice, the AIMIM chief said in Jaipur.
Lashing out at the grand old party which is in power in Rajasthan, Owaisi said, “Congress can only betray the Muslims.”
Owaisi called for a survey of Muslim OBCs in Rajasthan and sought reservations from the state government for members of the Muslim community.
ALSO READ | Why is PM Modi getting inspired by Pakistan?: Owaisi on triple talaq remark
OWAISI ON AJIT PAWAR COUP
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday took a jibe at opposition parties, saying that those invited to the Opposition meeting ends up joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Owaisi’s remark came hours after senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar along with eight other party MLAs were sworn in as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government.
Last month, 17 parties took part in the meeting convened in Patna by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on to chalk out a joint strategy ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha polls. Owaisi said that his party did not receive an invitation to the meeting.
“The Opposition meeting took place in Patna. The person that Sharad Pawar brought to the meeting, Praful Patel, has now joined hands with the BJP,” Owaisi said on Sunday.
“What kind of Opposition unity is this? Whoever is called ends up joining BJP. And they accuse us (AIMIM) of being B team. We were not called to the Opposition meeting,” he said.
He further lashed out at the opposition parties and said, “Four of our MLAs were brought by Congress, RJD, and Nitish Kumar in Bihar. When they (the opposition parties) do it, it is good, and if someone else does it then it is wrong?”
ALSO READ | ‘People like Owaisi push forward Jinnah-type culture’: Uttarakhand CM amid UCC row
