Narendra Modi dividing Hindus, Muslims, says Asaduddin Owaisi

Mumbai: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of dividing Hindus and Muslims along religious lines. Addressing a rally in Amravati in support of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) nominee, Mr Owaisi alleged that the Prime Minister was trying to save the Sangh Parivar in the Samjhauta train blast case.

Owaisi and Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar head the VBA. The front has said that it will contest all 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

The special court acquitted Swami Aseemanand and three others in the 2007 Samjhauta train bomb blast case. A total of 68 people, mostly Pakistanis, were killed in the bombing. Owaisi further said that there was no difference between parties like the BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP.

Questioning the PM on various issues, Owaisi said, “Mr Modi had said that a (VBA) candidate is in the fray from Amravati because it has less number of Hindu votes. He is creating a religious divide between Hindus and Muslims. Where is democracy, where is the Election Commission, where is the model code of conduct?”

Taking a dig at all parties alike, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief said that parties like the BJP, Sena, Congress and NCP belonged to one family. “They are all siblings who are united again after getting separated in their childhood. Don't fall prey to them. Form our own club and fight for justice,” the Hyderabad MP said.

The AIMIM leader targeted the Modi government over its “failure” to keep promises.

“The ruling dispensation is a failure on all fronts. Mr Modi had promised to give two crore jobs every year in 2014, but he does not speak on that issue now,” said Owaisi.

“Mr Modi’s promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of every citizen of the country also ended as a hollow promise. At the same time, decisions like implementation of GST and demonetisation have harmed the poor,” he alleged.