Owaisi claims Pawar lacks numbers for RS re-election

Amravati: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi triggered a political row on Sunday by questioning NCP veteran Sharad Pawar's prospects of returning to the Rajya Sabha, claiming Pawar did not have the numbers for re-election amid Maharashtra's shifting political landscape.Owaisi was in Amravati to campaign for AIMIM candidates in the Amravati Municipal Corporation (AMC) polls and addressed a public meeting later in the day. At a press conference ahead of the rally, Owaisi also took digs at the RSS and the BJP, alleging the two were avoiding core issues that affect citizens. He challenged RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to define "love jihad" and place data in the public domain to back the claim. Owaisi said the issue was being pushed to distract focus from jobs and other national concerns, and argued that choices made by adults fall within individual rights. Alongside the political attack, Owaisi flagged what he called a breakdown in civic delivery in urban pockets, pointing to gaps in safe drinking water, sewerage networks, schools and hospitals. Owaisi said funds meant for public services often did not translate into results on the ground, and asked why issues with basic amenities remain unresolved even as parties trade claims during elections. On Maharashtra's alliance churn, Owaisi said parties that share power together do not always fight elections together, and accused rival blocs of abandoning ideology for power. Owaisi said the public was watching the contradictions and would respond electorally. He also spoke on wider policy questions, alleging that BJP and RSS were struggling to answer pressing national issues such as unemployment and the situation on the China border, including Ladakh. Referring to ongoing debates around foreign policy and sport, Owaisi said India must take a consistent stand, and underlined that stability in Bangladesh was important for India given the long land border and strategic concerns in the region.