Guwahati (Assam) [India], April 2 : All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of running "politics of hatred" in the State.
He urged support for Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF to safeguard the rights of Muslims affected by alleged demolitions during his two-day visit to poll-bound Assam.
The polling for all 126 Assembly constituencies will be held in a single phase on April 9, while the counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
Speaking to ANI in Guwahati, Owaisi said, "I am in Assam for two days to support Badruddin Ajmal's party AIUDF. I believe that with Himanta Biswa Sarma as Chief Minister, the politics of hatred is being run in Assam. Congress has failed to stop the BJP. It is because of Congress that Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP are in power today."
"More than 50,000 Muslims' houses have been demolished, leaving them homeless. In such a situation, it is very important to support Badaruddin Ajmal so that the constitutional rights of those people can be protected," he said.
Assam will witness a fight between the incumbent BJP-led NDA government and Congress for the 126-seat assembly.
The BJP is contesting the elections with Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People's Front (BPF).
The NDA will look to secure a third consecutive term, while the Congress aims to defeat the ruling party to return to power.
A day earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his public rally in Biswanath, launched a huge attack aimed at the Congress, accusing the party of being "the root cause" of corruption in Independent India.
Prime Minister accused Congress of playing with Assam's identity, pride, and security, adding that it compromised with Assamese identity for the sake of power.
"The entire country knows that Congress is anti-development and has been the root of corruption in independent India. In Assam, Congress committed acts that the people are well aware of. Congress has played with Assam's identity, pride, and security. Since independence, it compromised Assamese identity for the sake of power and repeatedly neglected Assam's interests. One of its biggest wrongdoings has been integrating illegal infiltrators into the mainstream," said PM Modi.