Mumbai: Asaduddin Owaisi , the chief of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), on Monday, criticized the BJP -led government at the Centre and in Maharashtra with his usual anti-PM Modi rhetorics, while addressing an election rally in Mumbai. Owaisi, who was attempting to woo the voters to vote in favour of the AIMIM candidate, invoked the Waqf bill issue in his speech, verbally proving it an anti-Muslim bill with a warning. While counting the repercussions of the bill after becoming a law, he warned the Muslims saying that the Mosques, Kabrastans, Idgahs and Dargahs will taken away or demolished. The AIMIM chief urged the people of Maharashtra to vote for the AIMIM to stop the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from moving forward with the bill. 

The Maharashtra Assembly election is scheduled to be held on November 20, 2024 to elect the 288 members of the 15th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The voting will be done in a single phase on November 20th and the counting will be held on November 23. At present the state has the government of the Mahayuti alliance under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena, with support of the BJP and Ajit Pawar led NCP.

Owaisi’s Threat Game On Waqf Bill

Talking to the people at the rally regarding the Waqf bill, Owaisi warned that if the bill becomes a law, mosques, dargahs, and graveyards will be taken away, and cremation grounds will not remain intact. He emphasized that the collector has been given the authority to decide whose land is Waqf or not, which could lead to challenges for historic places like Haji Ali Dargah.

He said, “Today Modi has brought the law for Waqf. The bill he has brought has been introduced in the parliament. I am saying this with responsibility that if this bill becomes a law then our mosques will be taken away, dargahs will be taken away, graveyards will be demolished, the cremation grounds will not remain intact.”

“Tomorrow, someone will go and talk about Haji Ali Dargah and will ask the committee where are the papers of Haji Ali Dargah? You tell me how many 100 years old would Haji Ali Dargah be. Which document would they have? Do not think that there will be no challenge on it,” he asserted.

“There are many dargahs…..I appeal to you that the moving steps of BJP must be stopped,” the AIMIM chief stated.  

‘Don’t Fear Modi, Fear Allah’: Owaisi

Owaisi appealed to the voters of Mumbai, saying, “I appeal to you that the growing steps of BJP must be stopped.” He also linked PM Modi and Allah, stating, “Do not fear Modi… fear Allah.” He encouraged Muslim voters to vote for the AIMIM candidate, saying, “If you don’t try today, then when will you? Your vote will be valuable when you vote for the candidate of your choice. Don’t fear Modi… fear Allah. You don’t need to fear anyone.”

Owaisi Questioned BJP’s Defeat In Ayodhya

Owaisi addressed a public meeting in support of AIMIM candidate Raiees Lashkaria from Versova assembly seat in Behram Baug area of ​​Jogeshwari, Mumbai. He questioned Devendra Fadnavis , saying, “Modi talks about vote jihad by taking my name. What vote jihad was there in Ayodhya, why did you lose there? Devendra, we are not going to be afraid, we will fight and win. I do not beg from anyone. If success is written in my fate, then we will get success.”