‘O’ factor: Panic grips Congress

Bengaluru: Pressing the panic button over the entry of Asaduddin Owaisi of All-India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) into BBMP electoral politics, the Congress got Muslim clerics to send out a message to the community members that they should vote for the “secular” Congress in the BBMP polls.

The party seems to be more worried about Mr Owaisi dividing Muslim votes in the local body polls. At a well-attended meeting of Muslim sympathisers and intellectuals, organised by Haj Minister R. Roshan Baig here, All India Milli Council-Karnataka chapter chairman Moulana Khadir Ahmed Shah Ada-Ul-Amri advised Muslims to vote for secular forces, instead of squandering their franchise in favour of AIMIM.

“India is a peculiar country, where no Hindu leader can claim that he can win elections without the support of minorities, while it is the same with Muslims. AIMIM is not secular and the community need not vote for such parties," the Maulana said.

The Maulana said that a section of clerics advised AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi to consolidate his party in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before testing waters in other states, when he approached them before deciding to field candidates in the BBMP elections. "This is a free country. Any party can contest from anywhere. Who are we to stop anyone? If one wants the support of clerics, that party must have proved itself in its home state,” he said.

Another cleric Hazarath Haneef Azizi, though lashed out at Congress leaders for not giving adequate representation for Muslims, appealed to the community to vote for the party. Countering Azizi, KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar said the party is giving adequate representation, but the Muslim leaders should ensure right grooming of second rung leaders.