AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi launched a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP), Congress and their leaders during his first election rally in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, November 14, accusing them of failing to protect Muslims and Dalits and questioning their ability to defeat the BJP.
Addressing a rally at Nauchandi Ground in Meerut, Owaisi devoted much of his nearly 50-minute speech to criticising SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and the Congress. He referred to the 1987 Meerut riots, the Hashimpura massacre and the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots to question the record of previous Congress and SP governments.
Owaisi also appealed to voters to support the Samajik Parivartan Morcha, an alliance between his party and Chandrashekhar Azad’s Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), which has named Azad as its chief ministerial candidate for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Owaisi Recalls Meerut and Muzaffarnagar Riots
Referring to the 1987 Hashimpura and Maliana massacres in Meerut, Owaisi accused the Congress government of failing to protect Muslims.
He said 42 Muslims were killed in Hashimpura and another 72 in Maliana in incidents that took place on consecutive days in May 1987.
“Congress leaders, you forget dates, but we remember every date and every incident,” he said, adding that he would ensure future generations remembered the violence.
Owaisi also criticised the SP over the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, claiming that around 50,000 people were displaced from their homes.
He alleged that the then SP government failed to adequately support the victims despite having 47 Muslim MLAs. He further accused the state administration of removing relief camps with bulldozers while displaced families were struggling in the cold.
Taking a dig at Akhilesh Yadav, Owaisi alleged that the former chief minister was attending celebrations in Saifai while riot victims were living in difficult conditions.
Questions Akhilesh Yadav’s Record on Muslim Issues
Owaisi accused Akhilesh Yadav of remaining silent on issues affecting Muslims, including demolitions, arrests and communal violence.
He questioned why the SP chief had not visited certain locations where mosques and madrasas were allegedly demolished. He also praised Chandrashekhar Azad for standing with Muslims during a dispute over Eid prayers in Nagina.
Contrasting Azad’s response with Akhilesh Yadav’s alleged silence, Owaisi said the alliance had chosen Azad as its chief ministerial face because he stood with marginalised communities.
He also criticised SP MLA Shahid Manzoor, alleging that he did not visit students from his constituency who had been jailed. According to Owaisi, the MLA had said he was waiting for instructions from the party leadership in Lucknow.
Owaisi also targeted Meerut City MLA Rafiq Ansari, accusing him of neglecting development work in areas including Shyam Garden and Samar Garden.
Says Akhilesh Cannot Defeat BJP
Owaisi questioned Akhilesh Yadav’s recent appeal that voters should support whichever party could defeat the BJP.
Referring to the 2014, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2024 elections, he argued that the SP had failed to stop the BJP in successive electoral contests.
He claimed that the Samajik Parivartan Morcha could provide an alternative to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
Owaisi also alleged that Akhilesh Yadav had made questionable political choices while selecting candidates for the Rajya Sabha. He questioned the SP chief’s decision to nominate the son of a businessman whose father had supported a BJP-backed candidate in Jharkhand.
He further invited the SP and Congress to join the Samajik Parivartan Morcha, saying he was willing to make political compromises to bring them into the alliance.
Appeals to Muslims and Dalits to Support Alliance
Addressing Muslims and Dalits, whom he said together account for a substantial share of Uttar Pradesh’s population, Owaisi accused the SP and Congress of seeking their votes without speaking openly about violence and discrimination against them.
He urged voters not to support political parties out of fear and instead back the Samajik Parivartan Morcha.
Owaisi also referred to alleged police encounters involving Muslims and Hindu men, including Vikas Dubey and Pushpendra Yadav. He said that if Chandrashekhar Azad became chief minister, Uttar Pradesh would be governed by the rule of law rather than the rule of guns.
The rally marked Owaisi’s campaign push for the 2027 Assembly elections, with the AIMIM chief seeking to position the alliance as an alternative to both the BJP and the existing opposition parties.
