AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday, October 3, accused the BJP and Samajwadi Party (SP) of engaging in “noora kushti”, or a staged political fight, in Uttar Pradesh and alleged that Muslims in the state were being denied justice.
Addressing a rally in Bhinga, the headquarters of Shravasti district, Owaisi also criticised INDIA bloc parties and said the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) would not function as a “vote bank”. He demanded greater political representation for Muslims.
Owaisi Questions SP’s Rajya Sabha Candidate
Earlier in Bahraich, Owaisi questioned the SP’s decision to nominate industrialist Dhanraj Nathwani as its Rajya Sabha candidate from Uttar Pradesh.
“An industrialist whose father is a BJP Rajya Sabha member and who defeated an INDIA bloc-backed JMM candidate through cross-voting in Jharkhand has now been made an SP candidate,” Owaisi told reporters.
Referring to Nathwani’s association with the Gujarat Cricket Association, Owaisi said, “In Gujarat politics, the president of a cricket association is indirectly a political position.”
He also targeted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, alleging that the two were engaged in “noora kushti”, with one targeting Muslims while the other benefited from their votes.
‘We Are Not a Vote Bank’
On the INDIA bloc, Owaisi said the AIMIM had already made its position clear, referring to the party’s experience in Bihar.
Asked why the alliance was not holding talks with the AIMIM about including it, Owaisi said, “We say we will not lay the carpet; we are not a vote bank; we want our rights. Muslims should have a political identity.”
Owaisi announced Daddan Khan as the AIMIM’s proposed candidate for the Bhinga Assembly seat and sought the gathering’s approval.
He also appealed to the SP to consider an alliance with the AIMIM.
“If the aim is to stop the BJP from forming the government for the third time and prevent Baba from becoming chief minister, the Majlis is ready to extend its hand,” he said.
However, Owaisi warned that if the proposal was rejected, the AIMIM would contest the elections “with full strength”.
Owaisi Raises Development Issues in Shravasti
Owaisi alleged that Muslims in Uttar Pradesh were facing atrocities and claimed that madrasas, graveyards and shrines were being demolished using bulldozers.
Highlighting the socio-economic conditions in Shravasti, he cited figures he attributed to a 2023 NITI Aayog report. He claimed that 75 per cent of the district’s population was poor, while a large proportion of children were unable to complete basic schooling and several villages lacked adequate drinking water and electricity.
“Delhi has the emperor, Uttar Pradesh has Baba and the SP has Bhaiya. All of them have ruined Bhinga,” he said.
Owaisi said the BJP had been in power at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh for years, while the SP had previously governed the state. He alleged that elected representatives from the district had failed to raise its development concerns strongly enough.
‘Muslims Are Human Beings, Not Just Voters’
Referring to the 2022 attack on his convoy in Uttar Pradesh, Owaisi said he had not been intimidated and claimed he remained prepared to fight for the rights of Muslims.
“The 19 crore Muslims of India are not your ancestral property. We are human beings, not just voters,” he said, targeting the SP and INDIA bloc parties.
