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No political party should claim exclusive ownership of any issue. We will do our work and continue to protest against SIR.” — Asaduddin Owaisi
AIMIM chief questions Election Commission’s decision-making process, defends party’s nationwide efforts against SIR; says talks on UP alliance continue
Hyderabad, October 14 (PMI): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday said his party had filed a petition and a review petition in the Supreme Court concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He said the party had raised concerns over the Election Commission’s decision-making process and alleged changes to statutory forms used during the enumeration exercise.
Owaisi said the Election Commission was legally expected to function collectively, but questions remained over whether its decisions were taken unanimously and whether any dissenting opinions had been recorded.
“We filed the review petition also because the Supreme Court upheld SIR. We were petitioners in the Bihar SIR case. It is not understood whether the statutory form for enumeration has been changed. We don’t have any material. We filed a detailed petition in the Supreme Court,” he told reporters.
The AIMIM chief said his party continued to oppose the SIR process despite the Supreme Court’s earlier decision upholding it. He said the review petition was an attempt to seek further consideration of the issues raised by the party.
AIMIM Claims Extensive Work During SIR Process
Owaisi asserted that no other political party in Telangana had matched AIMIM’s efforts during the SIR exercise over the preceding three months.
He said the party had developed an application to help people navigate the process, extending assistance to people of different religions in Telangana, Maharashtra, Delhi and three districts of Uttarakhand.
“Why could other political parties not do similar work?” he asked.
Owaisi said AIMIM had pursued its opposition to SIR through legal action, political engagement and public campaigns. He maintained that the party would continue to raise concerns about the process and assist people affected by it.
Talks on Alliance in Uttar Pradesh Continue
Turning to the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Owaisi said discussions with opposition parties over a possible alliance were still underway. He had earlier set October 2 as a deadline for opposition parties in the state to reach an understanding.
Owaisi said an alliance was necessary if opposition parties wanted to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from returning to power for a third consecutive term.
“We are saying that if you (Samajwadi Party and others) want to prevent Yogi Adityanath from becoming chief minister for a third time, something we also do not want, let us talk. We will form an alliance. Even today, we are making efforts to forge an alliance to ensure that the BJP does not form the government for a third time,” he said.
Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the opposition should prepare for a “crushing defeat” in the 2029 elections, Owaisi said AIMIM’s objective remained to defeat the BJP. He added that other opposition parties would have to decide their own strategies.
Referring to the campaigning by prominent BJP leaders, including Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath, against him in Hyderabad, Owaisi said AIMIM would continue its political efforts to challenge the BJP in the 2029 elections.
‘No Party Has Exclusive Rights Over SIR Protests’
Responding to criticism of AIMIM’s position on protests against SIR, Owaisi said no political party could claim exclusive ownership of the issue.
Taking an apparent dig at Congress and other opposition parties over their reluctance to engage with AIMIM in the context of Uttar Pradesh politics, he questioned why his party should be expected to join protests only at the invitation of others.
“Am I a band baja party that I will come and stand after you tell me? I should hit the streets, but I cannot sit in front of you and talk,” he said.
Owaisi reiterated that AIMIM had opposed SIR from the beginning and had approached the Supreme Court in connection with the exercise in Bihar.
He said the party was working through legal proceedings, political engagement and public protests, adding that no political organisation could claim to be the sole representative of the issue.
“If you are making it an elite club (protests against SIR). Congratulations to you. We will do our work. We will continue to protest. But understand that no one can be a contractor of any issue,” he said.
Owaisi Questions Congress’s Stand on AIMIM
Owaisi also appeared to express disappointment with Congress over its political approach towards AIMIM.
Referring to the Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election in Telangana, where Congress had sought AIMIM’s support, he questioned whether his party was considered acceptable for electoral support in Hyderabad but excluded from political engagement elsewhere.
He also referred to the forthcoming by-election to the Khairatabad Assembly constituency in Hyderabad, which became vacant following the disqualification of the sitting Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA over defection to Congress.
“Don’t know what will happen in Khairatabad,” Owaisi remarked, without elaborating on the possible electoral outcome.
His comments highlighted the differences among opposition parties over political cooperation, particularly in the context of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and protests against SIR.
Owaisi Criticises Elon Musk Over Starlink Issue
Commenting on US billionaire Elon Musk and the debate surrounding Starlink satellite communication services in India, Owaisi questioned what he described as the BJP’s reluctance to respond firmly to influential foreign individuals.
“Elon Musk is terming someone as Prime Minister (of India). BJP people should open their mouths. The country will decide how the country’s resources would be used. Is the white-skinned going to dictate to us?” he asked.
Owaisi also referred to India’s comparatively low data charges and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a firm position on the issue.
He said Modi should demonstrate political resolve and tell Musk, “Nothing doing, bye-bye,” if the circumstances warranted such a response.
Backs Right to Peaceful Protest, Questions Arrests of CJP Leaders
Owaisi also criticised the decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites, questioning why the government appeared opposed to demonstrations.
He said peaceful protests should be permitted as long as they did not involve violence.
Commenting on the arrest of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders, Owaisi said their detention was unnecessary and suggested that the police could have considered issuing notices or granting bail at the police station, subject to the applicable legal provisions.
The CJP leaders were arrested on Tuesday after allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar, which had been de-notified as a protest area.
Owaisi’s remarks covered a range of political issues, including the legal challenge to SIR, opposition coordination ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections, political differences with Congress, the role of foreign technology companies in India and the right to peaceful protest. (pressmediaofindia.com)
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