In 2010, Kovind had said that ‘Islam and Christians are alien to the nation. How can such a person be a nominee for the post of the President of the country? Owaisi asked.
HYDERABAD — All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday questioned the NDA for choosing Ram Nath Kovind as the Presidential candidate.
“In 2010, Kovind had said that ‘Islam and Christians are alien to the nation. How can such a person be a nominee for the post of the President of the country?” Owaisi asked.
Addressing a gathering at the Youmul Quran programme held here at the historic Mecca Masjid after Friday prayers, Owaisi said that when AIMIM was contesting elections in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the powers there had apprehensions. “What will happen to secularism, they had said then. Now I am asking the same question to them,” he said.
The AIMIM president took strong note of the attacks of Gow Rakshaks across the country and asked Prime Minister Narendar Modi to restrain them.
“You are the Prime Minister of a country and if you give a call, everything will stop. Mr. Modi you take to twitter to condemn violent incidents across the globe but do not find it necessary to condole the death of Akhlaq (who was lynched on charge of cow slaughter in Bihar) and Zafar Khan of Rajasthan in name of Swaach Bharath,” he told the gathering.
He asked the Union government to earmark a fund of Rs. 1 lakh crore for cow protection and allocate Rs. 5,000 crore to every State for the purpose. “Around 40,000 farmers have committed suicide across the country in the last three years and several are in distress,” he said.
The parliamentarian questioned the delay in handing over punishment to those guilty of post-Babri Bombay riots in which 900 persons were killed. “Around 100 persons were convicted for Bombay blasts which resulted in the death of 257 persons but what about justice to the families of those 900 persons who were killed in riots,” Owaisi asked.
He said that the country belongs to Muslims as much as it belongs to any other community. “Is it the country of Subash Chandra Bose and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad or Sarvarkar? Muslims will stand equally with other communities and no one is sub-servient here nor does anyone own the country,” Owaisi said, pointing out the sacrifices made by the Muslim community in the Independence struggle.
“Attempts are being made to frighten us,” he told the gathering. “Why are we questioned on our loyalty even during a cricket match?” he asked.
Owaisi asked the Muslims to stay united and fight anti-national forces. He advised them to follow the teachings of Prophet Mohammed and Islam in true spirit.
c.telanganatoday.com
