AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi launched his party’s campaign for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections on Tuesday, questioning why a Muslim cannot become the chief minister of a state where Muslims make up 17 percent of the population.
Speaking at a rally in Gopalganj, Owaisi criticized both the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc for what he called their consistent neglect of the Muslim community. “Why cannot a Muslim, who represents 17 percent of the state’s population, become the chief minister? They have no problem promising the deputy CM’s post to someone representing only three percent,” he said, referring to the INDIA bloc’s promise to make Vikassheel Insan Party leader Mukesh Sahni the deputy CM if the alliance comes to power.
Owaisi accused parties like the Congress, RJD, and Samajwadi Party of using Muslims for votes without genuinely supporting their representation. “These parties ask for Muslim votes in the name of stopping the BJP, but they have failed to do so. They can’t even give Muslims proper representation in ticket distribution,” he said, urging Muslims to “build their own leadership.”
Attacking the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Owaisi said, “Modi talks about taking everyone along, but his party doesn’t give a single ticket to a Muslim in elections.” He also slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah for repeatedly referring to “infiltrators” in his speeches. “Amit Shah should tell us how many infiltrators were found during the massive NRC exercise, and why infiltration continues despite the BSF being under his ministry,” Owaisi said.
Responding to Union minister Giriraj Singh’s remarks calling Muslims “namak haram” (betrayers) for not voting for the BJP, Owaisi said, “The Rs 6,000 paid to farmers under the Kisan Nidhi Yojana is public money, not the ancestral wealth of those in power. Corruption is so high that people can’t even get their due benefits without paying a cut.”
Concluding his speech, Owaisi accused top leaders of putting personal interests above the people. “Modi’s heart lies in Ahmedabad, Nitish’s in Rajgir, and Lalu’s in his son. No one’s heart beats for the common man,” he said, urging voters to support AIMIM’s kite symbol in the elections.
