It is curious how Owaisi’s rhetoric, with its twin themes of Muslim victimhood and Muslim identity, reflects that of the BJP, which too is fixated on Hindu victimhood and Hindu identity. Like the BJP’s rhetoric alienates Muslims, Owaisi’s “we Muslims vs the rest” pitch pushes fence-sitters among Hindus towards the BJP
Just ahead of the October 2014 assembly polls in Maharashtra, Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin took Mumbai by storm. Their openly religious impassioned oratory and their attack on the half-hearted secularism of the Congress-NCP government made young Muslims go wild with joy. But elders of the community fretted that their community, already a potential target under the newly-elected BJP government at the Centre, would get totally isolated if they voted for a party that started and ended its election speeches with “Allah.”
They need not have worried. The Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) got just 0.9% of the vote in Maharashtra, though two of its candidates did get elected. Its performance in Bihar and UP was not much better.
They need not have worried. The Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) got just 0.9% of the vote in Maharashtra, though two of its candidates did get elected. Its performance in Bihar and UP was not much better.