The high-decibel political campaign in Hyderabad has ended, but its ramifications are being felt across the spectrum. Both the BJP and TRS have targeted AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for divisive politics, saying it’s the B-team of other parties.
Owaisi reacted strongly to the parties’ allegations, saying: “I am Laila of Indian politics, there are so many Majnus running after me; let them be around me. In Bihar too, they alleged me that I am B-team of BJP. In Hyderabad, it’s the opposite happening. My party AIMIM is very strong. Our cadre not only work for elections, the entire year we are with the people.”
Accusing the BJP of running a communal campaign, he told The Daily Guardian, “How can the BJP state president say that he would do a surgical strike and the BJP would remove Rohingyas and Afghanis? It’s the ruling party in Delhi. By making such allegations, the state BJP president insulted Amit Shah. If the BJP has a list of Rohingyas as they in the voters’ list, show the names and remove. Who makes the voters’ list? The BJP government in Delhi has not given a single paisa for the development of Hyderabad. If they gave any financial help to Hyderabad, show. The BJP has failed in everything. When the highest rainfall in 100 years happened in Hyderabad, not a single paisa was given by Union government. Lakhs of houses have been submerged. They cannot show anything; so they tried to trigger a communal divide. The people of Hyderabad are politically very shrewd; they would show whenever the time comes.”
Owaisi rejected the BJP proposal for renaming Hyderabad as “Bhagyanagar”. He even did not accept that it was the old name of Hyderabad. He asked the BJP leaders to refer to history. He told The Daily Guardian, “Hyderabad is the original name of Hyderabad. No other name was there. Even if you go back to the Delhi Sultanate time, it was referred as Telangana. For all investments, Hyderabad has become a brand name for major companies like Amazon, Microsoft, BP offices, and pharmaceutical companies. Brand Hyderabad attracts. Why do you want to change the name of Hyderabad? Just to create a communal divide, the BJP rakes up these issues, nothing more than that. That’s why they fail everywhere; they didn’t succeed in Bihar also.”
Owaisi made a statement on the ongoing farmers’ protest in Delhi too. He said: “The farmers’ protest is democratic and genuine. I support them and our party AIMIM supports them. When the Home Minister comes to Hyderabad and other BJP leaders campaign in Hyderabad. the farmers are not allowed to express their protest in Delhi at the Jantar Mantar. It’s an irony. The Supreme Court has said that we have a right to protest at a designated place. The government is going against the Supreme Court judgement. Their demands are rightful ones and no country can progress if the farmers are antagonised. In fact, no political party can win also. Agriculture is a state subject; the Centre has no right to legislate on the two bills. It’s listed under Schedule 7, how can the Centre do it? I expect the Prime Minister to intervene and call the farmers for discussions and take corrective measures.”
Owaisi said despite the AIMIM contesting only in 51 wards out of 150 in Hyderabad, he hopes to get the mayor’s post. He said while others sought votes on religion and caste, his party has asked for votes on the basis of performance and subjects like water supply, drainage, and other civic issues. He said parties like BJP and Congress are using his name to create a controversy.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections are scheduled for 1December. The results will be announced on 4December. Ballot papers are being used in the elections. Several high-profile BJP leaders are campaigning for the candidates in the GHMC elections, including J.P. Nadda, Smriti Irani, Amit Shah, Tejasvi Surya and others.