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How is your party performing in the ongoing elections on the seats AIMIM is contesting?

 

We are doing well in the Parliamentary assembly elections. In Hyderabad, out of the 7 assembly segments, we have 6 MLAs. We recently met to evaluate the issues we are facing and possible shortcomings that need to be addressed, especially those related to organisational matters and public outreach.

 

At the national level, we are either in a direct fight or support other party candidates to ensure that the BJP-led NDA does not get re-elected. Beyond Telangana, we plan to field candidates in the upcoming Maharashtra and Bihar state elections.

 

The BJP has launched a narrative through the Prime Minister that the Muslims are producing more children, and this is upsetting the socio-economic balance in the country.

 

This is just a political narrative. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has six brothers, and Amit Shah has six sisters, and they are saying that only Muslims have more children. Has the fertility rate of Muslim women not fallen? Why don't they tell the truth? All the comments against the Muslims being made are full of hatred and spewing venom against Muslims. This does not befit a prime minister who is representing the entire nation and not just the Hindus. You represent 133 crore people. You can compete politically, but why are you disturbing the social fabric of the nation?

 

There are around 14 per cent of Muslims across the country. AIMIM is one party that represents just the Muslims. Why does your party not field more candidates to represent Muslims better in Parliament?  

 

We have to work harder to attain what we are. Just keep in mind the capabilities and strength of our party. It’s not about what you want but what you can do. We evaluate situations and make appropriate and attainable decisions. For example, in six months, there will be an election in Maharashtra that we will contest. Initially, we would like to have more representation in states and then look at the centre. Better representation in states will give confidence to the people that we are progressing slowly and steadily.

 

What are your thoughts on the discourse adopted from political stages during the ongoing campaigning, especially with regard to the Muslims in the country?

 

Most BJP leaders only repeat what Prime Minister Narendra Moda says, and the recent statements of the prime minister during his public speeches across the country challenge the unity and diversity of the nation. He should not forget that he is the prime minister of the entire country and not that of a select section. He is subscribing to the ideology of only Hindutva and thereby doing injustice to all those who do not believe in this ideology. Therefore, all those who are opposed to this ideology and oppose the BJP have turned the entire campaign into a hate agenda.

 

Do you feel after the low poll turnout in the first phase of the election, the BJP's rhetoric has moved from 'Modi ki guarantee' to an anti-Muslim stance? Why do you think this has happened? Do you think the BJP may be on a weak wicket?

 

This is not a recent phenomenon. Since 2002, Modi has believed only in abusing Muslims. He and his friend Amit Shah are trying to create fear in the minds of the people against Muslims. This is to create confusion in the minds of the minorities and the oppressed. It is a well-planned strategy from the past to spread hate to divide votes on religious lines because they have bigger numbers when it comes to religious following.

 

The BJP is taking the Hyderabad seat very seriously. For the nomination of your opponent, Madhvi Lata, the BJP candidate against you, Anurag Thakur was present in person. Does this make you nervous?

 

Our party has a very different culture. Our corporators, MLAs, and workers also sit together six days a week and discuss issues and problems with the people and methods to resolve them. We have been with the people all through, unlike paratroopers who come here, make statements, and go back, only to return during the next elections. Why should we bother about such people or their comments?

 

How confident are you in these elections about the Hyderabad seat that AIMIM has retained since 1984? Your father first won and retained it, and now you are contesting it for the fifth time. Are you facing any anti-incumbency, and how important is this election for you?

 

In every election, whether it is Panchayat, Vidhan Sabha, municipal corporation, or Parliament, you have to treat it like an exam, and you cannot take any exam easily. You have to be up-to-date on all parameters to ensure success. Our workers are doing their best, and we will improve on the 2.3 lakh victory margin.

 

The BJP is alleging that there has been a friendly tie-up between the AIMIM and the Congress party, at least on the Hyderabad seat.

 

We will have to bring the BJP and the Congress leadership to sit over Irani chai and Osmania biscuits and ask them to decide who has had an understanding secretly with us. As far as we are concerned, we are a very transparent party and don't believe in any underhand activity to stay or come to power.

Also read: Campaign Trail: Asaduddin Owaisi's Fight for Hyderabad

Your 'beef zindabad' slogan while electioneering has become viral and is being used against Muslims. Why did you make this comment? Is this not your attempt to polarise votes on the basis of religious and cultural identities, especially when the Hindus would repulse at the idea of allowing the availability and sale of beef?

 

It was a trap and the BJP has fallen into my trap. I wanted to merely say that they got ₹10 crore from the beef company and had no problem with it. But the guy who works at the beef shop and barely makes 700 to 800 in a day is a person who bothers them. The BJP and the RSS do not have a problem with the money coming out of the export of beef but have a problem with these people because they come from a particular religion; the BJP also has no problem when they get electoral bonds. I wanted to prove this, and it has been proved.

 

Is the “ghuspatia” (infiltrator) allegation made repeatedly in political rallies having any impact on these elections or putting the Muslim candidates at any disadvantage?

 

The entire narration about “ghuspatias” is a lie. The government has been repeatedly asked how many infiltrators have come into the country in the last 10 years. They have no data, and they do not make any reply. Muslims have been in this country for 700-800 years. When Modi went to Saudi Arabia, he gave a model of a mosque from Kerala to the Saudi king. Was that Kerala Muslim who built the mosque also an infiltrator?

 

Why is there no mention of the political stages of the G-20, Chandrayaan, India becoming a Vishwaguru, India’s presence in the UN Security Council, the achievements of the G20, India’s 5 trillion economy? Where are those issues? The narrative is entirely around "I used to sell tea. I know the poor." These are things people will have to see and decide who has more to hide than they reveal and then vote.

 

There have been talks about gaining significant numbers so that it could help the NDA government end reservations for Muslims. Does this issue come up in your speeches or concerns raised over it by your voters, who are predominantly Muslim?

 

If the BJP forms the government, it will make major changes to the constitution or rewrite the entire constitution; there are several indications of this, including the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand. Article 25, freedom of religion, has been decimated in different BJP-ruled states. Now, for intermarriages, selling properties and many more acts, people require the permission of the government. In Gujarat, if you want to sell a house to a person of a different religion, you can only sell it once the government permits you. All these are pointers that there is a plan to change the constitution.

 

The concepts like equality, liberty, and justice would be limited to the will of the state. The IPC and CRPC have been changed and are now worse than the UAPA. What about the protection of cultural rights under Article 29? The framers of the Constitution did not touch the Muslim Marriage Act for some reason: is Amit Shah larger than the Constitution framers? People have to think about what they want from the government that rules and vote accordingly.

 

How do you read the lowered polling percentage in the first two phases of elections, and what is your message to your supporters?

 

In all my rallies and campaigning, I emphasise the importance of voting and tell people that they should vote; even if they want to vote against me, they should use their franchise. “Even if you have to vote against me, vote, but you must vote”, I tell them while appealing to raise the polling percentage. It is heartening that a lot of people are coming from the Gulf to vote.

 

The AIMIM has adopted novel ways to campaign by adopting modern techniques like launching songs, memes, and other social media strategies. Is AIMIM in for a makeover?

 

We have the same opportunities as other political parties to use technology to spread a message, and we are doing just that, keeping up with the times and available avenues. Modern tools are available to everyone, and we are trying to use them in a limited way. We cannot compete with national parties by flooding Facebook, Instagram and other social media.