With the formal setting up of its office in Kalaburagi on Saturday, Hyderabad-based Islamic political party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen is set to field its candidates in future elections from the city by wooing the minority electorate.
The party’s firebrand leader and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, seems to be keen on establishing a base outside Hyderabad, particularly in the Muslim-dominated areas of Karnataka like Kalaburagi. Owaisi told reporters after inaugurating the party office at the Zeenith Tower, Muslim Chowk, that Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, which did not allow him to hold public meetings, were scared of him. “If I speak against the Constitution of India, the state has every right to arrest me.
Let the general elections come in 2018 and they cannot restrict me as the elections will be held under the supervision of the Election Commission. We will then show our strength,’’ Owaisi said.
He said efforts will be made to strengthen the Majlis in Kalaburagi by uniting Muslims, backwards and dalits. Refusing to comment on Muslim leaders of Kalaburagi, Owaisi made it clear that in all future elections, AIMIM candidates will contest.
Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not showing commitment to the Constitution, the controversial MP alleged that Modi takes shelter under silence whenever controversial issues pertaining to Muslims, Constitution, nationalism and others crop up. He claimed that the Ayush department of the Union government has decided not to recruit Muslims as trainees. “Muslims and dalits are an integral part of India. Government decisions and actions should be in tune with the Constitutional spirit,’’ Owaisi said. Advocate Wahaj Baba and former zilla panchayat member Gurushant Pattedar were present.
A large number of people had gathered braving the scorching heat while they had waited on the roads and rooftops to have a glimpse of Owaisi. When he arrived two hours behind schedule around 2 pm, they cheered. Owaisi later addressed a gathering at KNZ Function Hall.