'PM trying to create communal frenzy': Asaduddin Owaisi on Muslim quota row

Hello and welcome. We are currently on the campaign trail in Hyderabad. We’ve been invited to a Dawat to the residents of the local member of Parliament, Asadin Owaisi. It’s been a long day, started early in the morning with the Chief Minister. Now we’re wrapping up with the local Member of Parliament of the AIMIM. Let’s see what Barrister Saab has cooking at his residence. OBC Saab Salaam Ali kum. Welcome Salaam. How are you doing? Welcome. Sarab Kesa chalrai Sarab ka campaign. This is for how many people? This is like you’ve got no, no, no, no election campaign is going on. Don’t worry. There are enough party members. So yeah, Sarah, Khana, Dekhi, Rajdeep, he’s like, you got the wrong people on the table. So we have my colleagues here, Nagarjun, We’ve got Apoorva Bashir, so welcome because we thought you said we didn’t realize that there would be like food starting from here, going all the way to the, you know, we have to serve you properly what you’ve got cooking over here. No, robot. This is generally what this is Salad, biryani and some fish. Hyderabadi, vegan Ka salan is there. So yeah, that is the thing, you know. So I want to tell everyone who’s watching at this time that Owaisi saag, I don’t know, not saying this about politics, but when it comes to food, does a little bit of cheating. He calls people to his house in Delhi, serves them haleem himself. If you see his katori, he’s eating corn. If you got some healthy food on your side of the ticket. Everyone, everyone, everyone. So, well, start with Haleem, right? Yeah, very nice. This food is such a big bone of contention in this election. We’ve seen the Prime Minister Owaisi Saar say that you know opposition leaders and he mentioned Laluji, Rahul Gandhi. You know that they that they poke fun at or they cook a snook at Hindu beliefs by wanting to eat meat and chicken during holy periods like Navratra. And the Prime Minister seems to think that that’s a very, very wrong thing. He thinks Hindus are very upset with it. So if I am fasting for 30, the Ramzan should I tell the people that they should also fast with me and he should not eat food at all? So I don’t know. I think the Prime Minister shouldn’t have made that statement because he’s a Prime Minister of everyone and everyone has to follow the religion they believes and they should do it. But if the Prime Minister speaks in that language, then what should a Muslim do now? Should we ask that close all alcohol shops on Friday? So I don’t know. I disagree with the statement of Prime Minister and if someone is deliberately doing something to hurt anyone religious belief, that is also wrong. Let’s come to this election of ISISA. This election has seen the BJP put up Madhavi latha to contest against you and she seems to be drawing a lot of traction on media, on social media. Do you think this will be a tougher election for you than past elections? In my, in my opinion and whatever I’ve learned politics from my elders is that never take any election easy. Whether it’s a month for election, Zila Parishad Panchayat, an MLA or MLC election, Parliament, you have to take it very seriously. And we have always taken every election seriously. So BJP is the main party and last 40 years we have been fighting his BJP and we’ve always defeated them in Hyderabad. People of Hyderabad are kind enough to grant us victory. So candidates are not important. It is BJP and other Congress and BRS are important. But another major talking point OSISAB in this election is the reservation for the minorities. Prime Minister keeps saying look at Telangana, look at Karnataka, They’re snatching the reservation of the ACST Obcs and they’re giving religion based minority reservation. How do you see this? So the reservation which is giving being given in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh started in Harshal, Andhra Pradesh in 2004. Rashka did the CM and that was a assurance given to us by Mr. late Rashka Reddy and Mr. Ulam Rabi Azad, the then observer of their Congress party. Then after they get power, this sort of reservation will be given. Now the reservation which is given given in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh is based on social, educational backwardness. It’s not based on religion. You know, the renowned anthropologist Mr. PS Krishna had created the report wherein he listed the caste among the Muslim which will get reservation. The caste which will not get. The Supreme Court had given history on it. So it is completely wrong for the Prime Minister to say that number one, someone share has been taken and given it to the backward caste among Muslims. And secondly, most important is not based on religion, it is based on social, educational backwardness and the caste among the Muslims. So the Prime Minister just trying to create a communal frenzy by saying that whereas he had the he had this great opportunity of breaking the 50% reservation limit in Parliament, he didn’t do it. He would have easily done it this time. We have seen that the beef controversy during your campaign. But what we see is that simultaneously many Hindu supporters mainly we’ve seen recently a pundit of Brahmin felicitating you and then that video goes viral. So is it the Madhavi Lata effect or is it something that has been going on with Owaisi in Hyderabad during COVID time? The famous Lal Daraza Mandir Pujari fell ill and his family called me around about 2:30 AM that they wanted a bet for him successful in finding a bid for him. So don’t go along with the BJP narrative that MIM does not works for or works only for Muslims. MIM works for everyone and that is why you’re getting enough support this time around. What’s your reading Oasis up of the mood in the Muslim community across the country, not just in Hyderabad and Telangana, but you’re reading of the mood pan India of the Muslim mind. My mood is my opinion is that #1 BJP has invisibilized. The Muslim community As for Indian part is concerned and over and above that the secular parties are not willing to talk about Muslims as you know as a community. So what we are saying is that the, the secular or so-called secular parties want Muslim more, but they’re not willing them to give them tickets, you know, to make them win the elections And unfortunately that is a very, very bad sign for Indian democracy. No. But do you think that the minorities also realize that its the bigger national parties that can potentially take on the BJP and therefore the more they vote for you the more the chance of a wasted voters are? No. Why is it? Because we are going to win Kishan Ganj, We are going to win Inshallah Aurangabad as well? I mean what messages are these parties giving that if you give a Muslim ticket then he’s not going to win? Forget about me, that is very bad. That is you know you’re sending a very wrong signal to the Indian electorate. How do you see Telangana? Do you think its a three-way contest in all 17 seats where BRSBJP and Congress are fighting or is it mainly going to be the both national parties fighting it Considering BRS has just lost the assembly elections. So this is a great challenge for BRS party except that as far as party is concerned we have fitted that in Hyderabad. Please support MIM remaining 16 Lok Sabha seats. We must defeat BJP. So last time in Assembly elections, we had given a call of supporting a political party. This time around we have not done it. You are You are supporting the BRS back then. This time around we have not done it. Are you supporting the Congress this time? Then no, we are not supporting anyone because they are more likely to beat the BJP, right? We are not supporting. We have said that whoever can defeat BJP, Please ensure that you that your vote is not wasted. The BJP is interestingly trying to make its way down South and they feel Telangana is going to be the gateway for them especially when it comes to this elections. What do you have to say to it? Like do you feel its going to be a possibility for the BJP? The BJP is working very hard. You already had four MPs in Telangana. BJP is trying the level best, not only retain that but to increase their strength. So it is a it is AIII wouldn’t say that its going to be easy, but it is possible to defeat BJP not only in those four seats but also to ensure that they don’t win beyond what Parliament seats they had. So it is now up to the people of Telangana to ensure that we don’t give space to BJP in Telangana. So coming to your election campaign during assembly elections, you call Revanth Reddy as RSS Anna on one side, The other side we see now he’s very much vocal about minorities. He goes on to say 4% reservation is right and the appeasement politics charges on him Now Today he’s of the opinion that once CAA, if BJP comes to power, CA is implemented, then it will be CLA, the language code, dress code, all this will be implemented. So how do you see this? Well, I cannot ask. I’m not a spokesperson for Evanth Reddy. But yes, after a bitter political battle we had, I’m thankful that he took up sanctions and development works, laid a new metro line in Hyderabad and so our we have given him a we have. I’ve told him that please complete your five years tenure, We want you to implement all your promises. You think he there’s a doubt whether he completes his five year tenure because there’s some talk of him potentially or you keep Chavi Lahoin saying he’ll join the BJP. No, I didn’t. I’ve never said. You never said you fear he may join the BJP. I have told him publicly in presence of public that we want you to complete your five years tenure Paramsikam Kareem support Karengeya for development Telangana development. Kelly a maintenance of peace. Kelly a so hopefully you know because all those promises which Congress had made we want them to implement them. It is very important. We will always be after them goes to implement career job. But I saw you working out. Your videos have gone quite viral where you’re lifting weights, your squats, wearing a tshirt away from your pathan kurta shivani that you always wear. Refreshing to see you, you know OECG, whereas colorful as your campaigns are were looking at your opponent. BJPS madhavi latha putting up quite a show. Shes dancing. Shes a full theatrics, 100 marks for all the stamps that shes pulled off on the campaign trail. Shes called you a descendant of the razakas. Doesn’t matter when she has. Shes not a BJP member. She was given a ticket because of recommendation of the the person who heads Muslim Rashtimansh. So doesn’t matter. You know BJP, our main opponent is BJP. Candidates come and go. In last 40 years we have faced BJP and they had more strong candidates than the president one people like Venkaiah Naidu, Subhash Chanderjee, Badambaladi, even Mr. Bhagwan. So yeah it doesn’t matter the any you know, I hope I cannot. We can choose my candidates or contestants. He will come and fight election, no problem. You know, she says that she wants to maintain if she comes to power, she will ensure peace between the Hindu Muslims. Her only aim is to ensure that Muslims and Hindus are brought together in culture. And you know she did. She was she did fire an imaginary arrow at a Majid. But that is how she wants to, she says. And someone. And she said someone panned, panned the video. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I mean she can say whatever she wants, doesn’t matter no. But Oasis AAP. She says that AAP. But mashikara that she didn’t fire at the Masjid. Shes firing in the air and the camera person just moves the camera towards the Masjid to distort what happened. This kurbani with the cream is to absolutely die for as is that Badam. What is this? See, forget the campaigning now. No campaigning after this. Now we wake up in the morning. I will have to go on a crash died once these elections get over, which is fine. We will deal with that later. This was brilliant. You know, usually people eat at the end of work. We’ve just eaten and you have a somehow people are waiting for you. So we are looking forward to seeing you and that fiery oratory in action. Hopefully this will help. So we’ve been on some big buses, Jeeps, Rd. shows during this campaign. Now we are on a bike show with Rasuddin Owaisi supporters heading towards old Hyderabad. Owaisi SAB his campaign may after a Congress pay soft nazar are both their tag of BJP Ki BTMT Abhi. Are you giving up hope on the BRS and becoming softer towards the Congress? See, I am stuck between the secular parties, so-called secular parties and the ruling party of BJP. Now it becomes very convenient for them to say that I am with them or I am not with them. That’s today Prime Minister said that OAC is being held by BRS and Congress. So, you know, I would love to have a host Prime Minister along with Revan Reddy on Irani Chai with a famous Karachi bakery fruit biscuit to decide whose team I am in. You know, this is, this has become a big joke. So it doesn’t matter to me as far as the party is concerned as compared to the last SM elections, we are not supporting or we have not given any call for to support one party. The only message which we have given is that Hyderabad MIM should win and in the remaining 16 Parliament segment, all of us should work together to defeat the BJP. No, but that largely in most seats, the principal opponent to the BJP is the Congress. Indirectly, you’re telling your voters to vote for the Congress. You know, we we are not saying orders to vote for this party or that party. They have enough wisdom to decide who to support and which by which parties candidate or which party can defeat BJP. Owaisi staff. The secular party is alleged that wherever the AIMIM puts up a candidate, you are damaging the India alliance, the secular cause and indirectly benefiting the BJP. Well, I have, I can ask so many questions. The first question is out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, why didn’t these secular parties find one Muslim candidate from their own parties to contest for one of the 48 seats in Maharashtra? You don’t do it. And then you put up a candidate against India Jalil, who’s the sitting MP and and putting up a candidate over there for what? Secondly, how many seats are we contesting right now at what, 7:00 or 8:00? So we have 542 Lok Sabha seats. Assuming that their argument is right, which is not right, do you still have more than 530 odd seats to contest and win? Who’s stopping you? The issue is that the secular parties would always talk about the Muslim more. What about when they lose? When they have lost in 2014 and 19, they don’t have the intellectual honesty to say that they lost because of the Hindu vote which went to Narendra Modi. But you know what is the political representation in Lok Sabha of the Muslim communities? It is 4.5. Why? Why is that? Why are you not giving enough candidates from the Muslim community? Why are Muslim candidates are getting elected? So these are all valid questions which all political parties, especially those political parties who claim to be, who claim to have monopoly over the Muslim mode which they have never answered. PM Modi or BJP, Anti Muslim Arab countries. Saudi Arabia. Ho United Arab Emirates. So jitne mas booth India ke rishte in desho SE AA kabhi in a Congress. Kabhi rahe and these are hardcore Muslim countries. Paleto E theocratic country quit democratic countries a dusri baati hai ke musalmano ko kya karna hai in theocratic countries civilization case Agar Narendra Modi kare ke bhai my Muslim gulf countries Arab countries to my Muslim dose. So comparison AAP E deske Prime Minister her foreign country ke saath Christian countries. AAP Prime Minister Bharat ke musalmano ke AAP ke mantri mandal mekoi Muslim mantri nahi hai or pathan mantri keja haliya. Speech Satra Kaur musalmano kaidiya laghadiya Muslim mahila karte hai or Ek tohin Ki Puri musalmano Ki ke Hindu bhai mangal sutra tarkar hamko diya jayega kisika chorika Saman liquor Zindagi Muslim communities BJP Muslim samaj outreach. How 3 Sagar kare hai to AAB jiski sika bulldozer seghar tore pure pasmanda hai jiska murder ho jata hai hakariyo me police custody me pasmanda hai agariti mohabbat pasmanda SE to AB unko ticket deviye election karte to ye doti in gulf countries Ko dekhane ke liye pasmanda keti or America dake America ka JoJo. State department woke with advance report. Now the Muslim outreach karna chare to patan mantri Jo bhasha estamal Karen askal uska ka bolinga kisi kelapi discrimination naywaliye hai ke AAP minority ministry Kisli aapke passe article 2930 kisli hai. Superior religious conversion lost cubanaya apne inter religious marriages. Proof of the pudding is an eating now because examples. But the proof of the pudding also is that all government schemes, all direct benefit transfers are distributed equally to all communities without fear, favor or bias. So hamne kaivar RTA application dala pusa voltium data maintained data but the area Desko bataye apne kidney kidney musalmano kodiya kidney Dalits kodiya kidney obesi kodiya RTA application Dal Dal K data maintain nahi karte. I love Jihad Cop. Define Nahi karte to Ismay you hit the problem with BJPBJP Boltier Zavani karakia Magar uske opposite Zameen for BJP Kam karti None. Do you feel sometimes that you’re part of this political jousting which happens where the more you provoke or the more hardline you get the better it is for your opponent. So it kind of its a bit of lura krusty. You attack, they counter attack. It works for you. It works for them. I don’t think so. See, if BJP is winning elections in India or what they have won a 1419 various state election is not because of my speeches or my presence. It is because of the lack of commitment, preparedness, planning of the either the National Party or the regional parties. So it is it is very easy, convenient to blame me but BJP is winning because of their own machinery which they have their own Carter they have were not able to take them on with. You know in ideology. Many parties have compromised ideology also. What do you think Owaisi, some of the whole electoral bonds controversy, the Supreme Court striking it down. Most of the big electoral bond donors were all from this Hyderabad, Telangana region. More than 80% electoral bonds were made in Hyderabad and the Hyderabadi MP does not get a single bond. The AIM didn’t get ₹1.00 in electoral. No, no, no, no. Otherwise it will have been out by now. Sawal uskani another the quid pro cure which was happening with all the parties. See nobody gives you free money. Nobody gives you free money. Somebody is giving you free money is not giving it. Oh my mother has expired. Please do something good for it. The father has passed away. Do something. Whenever any organization is giving a money to you, they expect something back in return. That is the rule of thumb. And it’s not that somebody is writing which ago and enters a demo. No, they have their own interests and Mr. Modi has rewarded them. The other state governments have rewarded them. Congress madar Kari Narendra Modi ko BRS. Congress madar Kari Narendra Modi koi madar tahi Kara Shiva Allah ke chali salsa Narendra Modi my offer their own AAP ko time. They do My Hyderabad Ki Bhatri Nirani Chayako pilato PRS the so the way he just wrapped up his speech in the old Hyderabad area, the BJP is big thrust. This time is on the Uniform Civil Code. Its one of the key ideological pillars of the BJP that aren’t implemented. You don’t seem to be wanting to let it go through. But the option may not be yours to exercise. No. Why is the Hindu Undivided Tax debate given into Hindus? Why not to Muslims and Christians? And what kind of UCC they have imposed in Uttarakhand? Where in wherein they are saying that I cannot get married according to my Islamic religious law. You’re telling me go and get your marriage done. A special marriage. Like why? Why can’t I do it? So this is what they want to do. The the freedom of religion is a fundamental right. You cannot take that away away from me. This is part of the Directive Principles of state Policy in the Constitution. Oh, there are many Director principles. Article 29, Distribution of wealth. Why is that not happening? 1% of people hold 40% of wealth. The direct principle talks about prohibition on alcohol. Please do it. Why don’t you do all these things? But the large majority does want uniforms, no? What kind of UCC that would be, whether it was the abaca school of thought, Mitashara school of thought? And who are you to impose one religious morals on other religious people? And how do you say that your morals are good? And my, my, my practices are bad? This is not required at all. What is required is jobs. What is required is inflation to come down. What is required is, you know, country should become stronger. Mr. Modi is using UCC to weaken the country to create more divisions. So the way see Saab, you know, we are about to reach the deadline which the Election Commission has for campaigning after which the EC might be upset with us. So thank you very much for joining us in this special edition of JAB. We met. All the very best. Thank you. Thank you.