Asaduddin Owaisi urges united Muslim vote for Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF in Assam

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, campaigning in Assam’s Binakandi constituency, urged Muslims to vote collectively for AIUDF candidates led by Badruddin Ajmal. He accused the BJP of pursuing “hate politics” and criticised the Congress for remaining silent.

Guwahati: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday asserted that Muslims will cast their votes unitedly in favour of the AIUDF in the Assam assembly elections to be held on April 9.

Addressing a rally at Binnakandi constituency in favour of AIUDF candidate and party chief Badruddin Ajmal, Owaisi alleged that the ruling BJP is indulging in “hate politics” and the Congress is “silent” against it.

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“Muslims will cast their votes unitedly and Badruddin Ajmal’s 29 candidates will win. Assam’s politics will be decided by the AIUDF,” he said.

Owaisi also said eviction drives being carried out by the BJP-led Assam government was “completely unconstitutional”.

“Badruddin Ajmal went to the Supreme Court against it. The apex court ordered that if it is forest land, then give alternate land. Otherwise, do not displace them,” he said.

The Assam government displaced 50,000 people, which is a “big injustice and violation of human rights”, and “just hatred”, the AIMIM chief claimed.

“BJP is indulging in hate politics and the Congress is silent against it. That is why the AIUDF leadership here will be successful on the basis of support from the Muslim minorities,” Owaisi said.

He asserted that the Muslim community in Assam has been facing various problems for many years, and security and rights of minorities have not been ensured.

“I have come to Assam for a special purpose. I have come to speak out for the rights and protection of Miya Muslims in Assam,” Owaisi said.

‘Miya’ is originally a pejorative term used for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, and the non-Bengali-speaking people generally identify them as Bangladeshi immigrants. In recent years, activists from the community have started adopting the term as a gesture of defiance.

Owaisi also criticised the BJP and earlier Congress governments for their “negative steps” in term of NRC and CAA, among others.

“The minority community has been used for only political gains in Assam for decades… The community’s citizenship issue should not be used for political mileage,” he added.