New Delhi:
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday jumped into the bitter battle between the BJP and Congress triggered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments on Muslims and claims of “redistribution of wealth… to those who have the most children… to infiltrators.” “.
At a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday, Mr Owaisi hit back at the Prime Minister's 'those who have the most children' comment by stating that 'Muslims use condoms the most' and joked about the slogan 'Modi ki guarantee' from the ruling party, saying: “(The Prime Minister) has only one guarantee: hate Dalits and Muslims.”
“Why are you raising fears that Muslims are producing more children? According to data from the Modi government, population growth and fertility among Muslims have declined. Muslims are the most likely to use condoms, and I am not ashamed to say this…” thundered Mr. Owaisi.
‣ @narendramodi I think I can do that त करो।
‣ एक मुल्क का वज़ीर-ए इस इस मुल मुल्क की 15 फ़ीसद अवाम को घुसपैठिया कहता है See more सकती सकती सकती सकती सकती सकती सआ See more pic.twitter.com/87mIdAfiAi
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 27, 2024
“Narendra Modi is creating fear among Hindus that Muslims will become a majority community. How long will you create fear for Muslims? Our religion is different but we belong to this country.”
Neither the BJP nor the Prime Minister have responded so far.
The fierce battle between the BJP and Congress, as well as opposition parties affiliated with the INDIA bloc, erupted after Modi's comment at an election rally in Banswara in Rajasthan this month.
Referring to the Congress manifesto's plans for an 'economic and institutional report' as part of the national caste survey, and combining that with a comment from his predecessor, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister said: 'Congress says they will calculate gold with mothers and sisters… and divide that property… Manmohan Singh government said Muslims have first right to all resources…'
READ | Argument after Prime Minister says: “Congress will divide assets among infiltrators”
“…who will this be distributed to? It will be distributed to those who have more children. It will be distributed to infiltrators. Should your hard-earned money go to the infiltrators?” he said.
NDTV FACT CHECK | Has Congress really promised “wealth redistribution”?
Mr. Modi's comments provoked an angry response from Congress, which accused Mr. Modi of lying to divert voters' attention from real issues. The party pointed out that its manifesto made no such claim, and Rahul Gandhi later explained that the study and its components were an “important step” in understanding how parts of society had developed and what is needed to achieve equality to ensure.
READ | “Didn't say…”: Rahul on “Wealth Redistribution” row, Prime Minister's Jabs
The party has also filed a complaint with the Election Commission. A notice was sent to BJP chief JP Nadda – and his Congress colleague Mallikarjun Kharge, after a complaint was filed against Mr Gandhi.
In a significant step, both party leaders were tasked with ensuring their campaigners followed guidelines for a “higher quality of political discourse”. They were told to submit their response by 11 a.m. this morning.
READ | BJP gets notice in Delhi, PM's inheritance tax in Madhya Pradesh
The AIMIM boss is contesting the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat in these elections, which has been a stronghold of his family since 1984 when his father, Salahuddin Owaisi, won the seat from the Congress.
In 2019, he polled more than 60 percent of the votes, but this time he could face a tougher test, especially from the BJP's Madhavi Latha. The two clashed earlier this month after a video appeared to show the BJP leader – decked out in saffron and adorned with yellow flowers – pretending to draw and fire an arrow during a Ram Navami procession/campaign rally near a mosque .
READ | “Where did the mosque come from?”: BJP candidate on “Imaginary Arrow”
Mr Owaisi denounced the “vulgar, obscene and provocative” action, while Ms Latha claimed the video was “incomplete” and was spread online “to create negativity”. “…if anyone's feelings were hurt by such a video, I would like to apologize…” she said on X (formerly Twitter). A police case was filed. She hit back last week, accusing her rival of inciting people by talking about “religion and beef.”
Hyderabad will vote along with the rest of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on May 13. The results are on June 4.
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