Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], April 18 : Amid the row over Hyderabad BJP candidate Madhavi Latha allegedly pretending to shoot an arrow at the mosque in Hyderabad during Ram Navami yatra, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that they will not accept the BJP-RSS' vulgar and provocative actions. Is this the 'Viksit Bharat' BJP is talking about?
Peace in Hyderabad is the main priority of the people rather than elections, Owaisi said.
"The people of Hyderabad had seen BJP's intentions. They will not accept BJP-RSS' vulgar and provocative actions. Is this the 'Viksit Bharat' BJP is talking about? Bigger than elections is the peace of Hyderabad. I am confident that the people of Telangana will vote against BJP which are against peace in the state," he said.
"Elections have their own place. But what is more important than elections is the peace of Telangana and Hyderabad, the brotherhood, fraternity prevailing here, which they (BJP) want to destroy. I am confident that the people of Telangana will vote against the BJP, who are against peace in the state," Owaisi said, speaking to ANI responding to Madhavi Latha's controversial gesture on Ram Navami day.
Owaisi exuded confidence in the people of Hyderabad, saying that people in the city as well as Telangana state are aware of BJP's intentions. The AIMIM chief also appealed to them to exercise their franchise wisely.
"They want to destroy the image of Hyderabad. Peace is essential for Telangana's prosperity. What she did yesterday, the video that is not being aired by you, reflects your (media) biases. The RSS and BJP indulged in such an act before a religious structure! They want to destroy Hyderabad. People of Hyderabad and Telangana have already seen BJP's intentions and what future they want to bring to Telangana and Hyderabad. I appeal to the people of Telangana and Hyderabad to see what they are trying to do and vote wisely," Owaisi said.
"Why does Telangana report the highest per capita income among all states? It is because there is peace here," he stressed.
Lambasting the BJP for its vulgar gesture, Owasi said, "They (People of Hyderabad) will not accept BJP-RSS' vulgar and provocative actions. Till yesterday you (BJP) were abusing me and now you are doing this! What is your message? Is this Narendra Modi's 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas'? Is this the 'Viksit Bharat' BJP is talking about?"
On the elections in Tamil Nadu, which will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday, the AIMIM chief said that he is supporting the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
"In Tamil Nadu, we are supporting AIADMK. I have spoken to the former Chief Minister and General Secretary of AIADMK. He has said that he is not in alliance with the BJP, nor will he stitch up an alliance with the BJP in the future. He is also against CAA and NRC," Owaisi said.
The Lok Sabha election in the 17 parliamentary constituencies of Telangana will be held on May 17.
Owaisi (55) has so far won the constituency four times since 2004. Before that, he was a member of the undivided Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly for two terms.
In the previous 2019 general election, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won nine seats in Telangana. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured four seats. The Indian National Congress (INC) obtained three seats, and the AIMIM won one seat.