New Delhi: Hitting out at Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis over his “vote jihad” comments, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi retorted that the BJP leader’s ideological ancestors wrote “love letters” to the British rather than fighting against them during the freedom struggle. He was speaking at a public meeting on Sunday. Owaisi also pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan “Ek Hai to Safe Hai” is in contradiction with the ethos of diversity of the country.
On Saturday, Fadnavis had alleged that “vote jihad” had started in Maharashtra where assembly polls are round the corner. He had remarked that vote jihad must be countered by “Dharma Yuddha” of vote. The deputy CM had claimed that the BJP’s close loss in Dhule Lok Sabha constituency was also because of ‘vote jihad’.
Reacting sharply, Owaisi said that “our ancestors did jihad against the British and Fadnavis is now teaching us about jihad”. He added that (PM) Narendra Modi, (Union minister) Amit Shah, and Devendra Fadnavis together cannot win against him in a debate. The AIMIM chief said that the “Dharma Yuddha-jihad” comments were in breach of the poll code. Owaisi asked: “From where did ‘vote jihad and dharmayuddha’ come in democracy? You bought MLAs; should we call you a thief?”
The Hyderabad MP pointed out that even as Fadnavis talks about (vote) jihad, his hero was penning “love letters” to the British, while “our freedom fighters did not negotiate with the foreign rulers”.
‘When they fail to secure votes, they dub it as jihad’
Owaisi said that Fadnavis shouted ‘vote jihad’ after they (BJP) failed to secure votes in Malegaon (during Lok Sabha election). When they fail to secure votes, they call it jihad. “They lost in Ayodhya. How did that happen?”, he asked He pointed out that PM Modi’s ‘Ek Hai to Safe Hai’ is aimed at ending the diversity of the country. He added the Maratha community was betrayed by rulers who failed to give them reservation.
(With PTI inputs)
