Owaisi questions Akhilesh Yadav over Dhanraj Nathwani's nomination for Rajya Sabha

Rampur, October 19 (UNI)AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi questioned Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav over the nomination of industrialist Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani to the Rajya Sabha, accusing the SP leadership of maintaining contradictory political ties.

Owaisi said, "Akhilesh gave his uncle a Rajya Sabha seat and nominated Nathwani as the second candidate." "Nathwani's father, Senior Nathwani, defeated the All India Alliance candidate in Jharkhand. Now, Akhilesh has nominated Junior Nathwani as his candidate. The father is with the BJP, and the son is with you. Tell me, what is this relationship called?" Owaisi asked. The AIMIM chief made these remarks during a public meeting at Manshab Ali Stadium in Tanda, Rampur, on Sunday night. He alleged that Nathwani had congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years in power, while AIMIM was repeatedly accused of being the BJP's "B-team" whenever it contested elections.

Further attacking the SP leadership, he said, "Nathwani had congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years in power, while AIMIM was repeatedly accused of being the BJP's "B-team" whenever it contested elections. "Akhilesh, you made a deal with the BJP and gave a BJP man the SP ticket," Owaisi said, launching a sharp attack on the SP leadership and its political positioning.

Owaisi said, "I have given so many speeches. Name one sentence in any of my speeches in which I have said something against India or any of our Hindu brothers. I have certainly spoken against the BJP. I oppose the RSS ideology because I have studied it. I have read many books about the RSS and spoken to several experts. I know that the RSS's aim is to make India a Hindu nation." Owaisi said the Muslim community should develop its own political leadership rather than depend on established political families and parties from Nehru, Gandhi or Yadav families to represent it.. He accused the SP and other opposition parties of viewing Muslims primarily as voters rather than as equal stakeholders in political decision-making.

Taking aim at Akhilesh Yadav and the INDIA alliance, Owaisi said, "You do not consider Muslims human beings; you consider them merely voters. I consider them human beings, my sons, my brothers, my future and my leaders." "Our young men and women will rise from within our ranks. Muslim youth have as much potential as those from other communities, yet they lack a platform. The Majlis is giving them the opportunity to lead India and secure justice for their community," he said.

The AIMIM chief said Muslim youth has the potential to become legislators, MPs and political leaders but often lacked opportunities and platforms to advance. He said his party was seeking to create those opportunities and enable members of the community to participate more actively in politics. "Now Abdul won't just lay the carpet. Abdul, insha'Allah, will become a leader, an MLA and an MP," Owaisi said, calling for a change in the role played by Muslim party workers. He also defended his criticism of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), asserting that his opposition was based on ideology. He challenged his critics to identify any statement in his speeches that was against India or Hindus.

Referring to the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Owaisi said his opponents and the alliance's adversaries would become more active as the elections approached. "There will be silence for a while, and then there will be noise. Your time has come, Akhilesh and Baba. Your time has come; our time will come," he said. He urged AIMIM supporters to work at the booth level instead of merely chanting slogans at rallies. He said each party worker should connect with five people to strengthen the party.

Owaisi questioned opposition leaders over what he described as their lack of support for Muslim activists and individuals facing imprisonment. Referring to Shifa-ur-Rehman, Safoora Zargar, Ishrat Jahan and Sharjeel Imam, he alleged that opposition leaders did not demonstrate the same level of activism in their cases as they did for other political figures. He also expressed concern over the difficulties faced by senior SP leader Azam Khan and prayed for his well-being. Owaisi further called for the early release of Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, who, he said, was lodged in Fatehgarh Jail.

Referring to the BJP's electoral victories in previous elections, he questioned the purpose of forming governments if people continued to struggle with poverty, injustice and access to basic amenities. Owaisi said political activity would intensify as the Assembly elections drew closer and called on AIMIM supporters to prepare for the electoral contest. He questioned the purpose of forming governments if people could not even get electricity to their homes while continuing to face poverty and injustice. Citing Rampur and Moradabad, he alleged that Muslims and Dalits lacked adequate facilities. He cited a literacy rate of 53 per cent in Rampur, compared with 67 per cent for Uttar Pradesh, and put the district's female literacy rate at 44 per cent. He also claimed that 70 per cent of children in Rampur suffered from anaemia.

Highlighting the economic hardships of families engaged in beedi-making and other low-income occupations in Tanda, he urged parents to prioritise education so that future generations could access better opportunities.

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