Kanpur (UP): AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday said he is open to an alliance with parties looking to prevent the BJP from returning to power in Uttar Pradesh for a third consecutive term.
Addressing a public meeting in Kanpur’s Cantonment constituency, he urged voters to strengthen AIMIM’s presence in the state, saying the (Muslim) community needs a “voice” in the UP Assembly.
“We also do not want the BJP government to be formed in UP for the third time. If you want to stop the BJP from forming the government again, come and join hands with AIMIM,” he said.
Owaisi said AIMIM had made a similar proposal to opposition parties in Bihar, where it had sought six seats, but the offer was not accepted.
“We had made similar appeal in Bihar, I had given it in writing that all AIMIM wanted was six seats in Bihar. But our proposal wasn’t accepted,” he said.
He also referred to the defection of four AIMIM MLAs to the RJD, saying the party had nevertheless renewed its appeal for an opposition alliance.
“We appealed to Bihar, even though four of our MLAs in Bihar had been made to defect to another party (RJD). I salute the people of Bihar’s Seemanchal region, who helped us win those seats again. Still, we’re making an open offer (to opposition parties) in UP for an alliance to stop the BJP from coming to power again,” Owaisi said.
Owaisi said he would soon begin an active campaign in Uttar Pradesh, starting with a public meeting in Kanpur next Sunday, followed by visits to Shravasti and Azamgarh.
“I’ll be there every week from next Sunday onwards,” he said.
On the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Owaisi alleged that its implementation in BJP-ruled states was aimed at targeting India’s Muslim population and dismantling constitutional protections available to religious minorities under Articles 25, 26 and 29.
The UCC was first implemented in Uttarakhand and is being replicated in Gujarat, Assam and Madhya Pradesh, he said.
Owaisi alleged that the laws being introduced under the UCC effectively impose provisions based on Hindu personal laws, including the Hindu Succession Act, Hindu Marriage Act, and Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, on non-Hindus.
“Only the Sections numbers’ have been changed, else the Uttarakhand UCC law is being implemented in other BJP-ruled states, including MP. This is absolutely wrong. Imposing the laws of one religion upon another is contrary to equality and freedom of religion. That is why we are opposing it,” he said.
He also questioned the exclusion of tribal communities from the UCC in Madhya Pradesh while Muslims are covered by it.
“Tribals constitute 19-20 percent of the population in Madhya Pradesh, but they have been kept out of the UCC’s purview in MP. On the other, Muslims who constitute merely eight percent of the same state’s population have been brought under its ambit,” Owaisi said.
“You kept the tribals out because their culture and traditions are distinct; their marriage customs differ, and their religion is different. Is our religion not different?” he asked.
