Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that Devendra Fadnavis had violated the model code. (File)
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has attacked Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over his 'vote jihad' comments, alleging that the BJP leader's (ideological) ancestors wrote 'love letters' to the British instead of fighting them.
At a public meeting here on Sunday, Mr Owaisi also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Hai to Safe Hai' slogan is against the diversity ethos.
Mr. Fadnavis on Saturday alleged that “vote jihad” had started in polling station Maharashtra, which should be countered by a “Dharma Yuddha” vote. He had mentioned the BJP's narrow loss in the Dhule Lok Sabha constituency.
Mr Owaisi told him, “Our forefathers waged jihad against the British and Fadnavis is now teaching us about jihad. (PM) Narendra Modi, (Union Minister) Amit Shah and Devendra Fadnavis together cannot beat me in a debate. “
Mr Owaisi alleged that the “dharmayuddha jihad” comments amounted to a violation of the poll code.
“Where does 'vote jihad and dharmayuddha' come from in democracy? You bought MLAs; should we call you a thief?” the Hyderabad MP wondered.
While Mr Fadnavis talks about (vote) jihad, his hero wrote 'love letters' to the British, while 'our freedom fighters did not negotiate with the foreign rulers', he said.
“We gave the method to fight against the British. He (Fadnavis) said 'vote jihad' after they (BJP) did not get votes in Malegaon (during the Lok Sabha elections). If they don't get votes, they call it jihad. They lost in Ayodhya. How did that happen? Mr Owaisi asked.
'Our ancestors waged jihad against the British, not yours. Fadnavis, whose ancestors wrote love letters to the British, will teach us jihad?' he added in a veiled attack on Hindutva ideologues revered by the BJP.
Prime Minister Modi says 'Ek Hai to Safe Hai' because they (BJP) want to end the diversity of this country, the AIMIM leader said, adding that the Maratha community was betrayed by rulers who did not give them reservations.
Mr. Owaisi alleged that many industrial projects were going to Gujarat, but Mr. Fadnavis showed no courage to stop them. 'Was he afraid of Narendra Modi?' he asked.
Referring to a controversy over the statements of Hindutva seer Ramgiri Maharaj, Mr Owaisi said comments against the Prophet will not be tolerated.
He called on people to come and vote on November 20. “Our victory in Aurangabad will be greeted by the people of India,” he added.
Mr Owaisi was addressing a public rally in Jinsi area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in support of AIMIM candidates Imtiaz Jaleel (Aurangabad East) and Naser Siddiqui (Aurangabad Central) for the November 20 Assembly elections.
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