All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has thrown an open challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah to contest election from Hyderabad. Owaisi, who represents Hyderabad in Lok Sabha, criticised PM Modi over various issues and questioned his silence over the incidents of mob lynchings in the country.
Owaisi even challenged the Congress to contest from Hyderabad and said even if both parties (BJP, Congress) join hands, they won't be able to defeat AIMIM.
"I challenge anyone to fight All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen(AIMIM) from Hyderabad. I challenge PM Modi or Amit Shah to contest a seat from here. I also challenge Congress. Even if both these parties contest together, they still wont be able to defeat us," Owaisi said addressing a public gathering in his home city.
Owaisi, who has been a vocal critic of PM Modi and his policies, had recently said that Muslims should emerge as political force to get their rights in the country.
Owaisi had said there was need to think of an alternate to the Bharatiya Janata Party, other than the Congress. "The alternate is regional parties and they have to be strengthened," he said referring to the proposal of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao for a federal front as alternative to both BJP and Congress and to bring qualitative change in the country's politics.
Owaisi also had alleged that both BJP and Congress were hoodwinking the people, who were worried over skyrocketing prices of petroleum products and lack of jobs.
(With inputs from agencies)