AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has lashed out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after she made a veiled attack at the AIMIM, talking about increasing instances of ‘minority extremism’ emanating from Hyderabad.
Speaking at an event in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar, Mamata was quoted by ANI as saying, “I am watching that there are some extremists among the minorities. They have their base in Hyderabad. Don’t listen to them.” Though she did not specify the party or its leader in her speech, she made a reference to the party’s base in Hyderabad, alluding to the AIMIM.
Owaisi took to Twitter to hit back at the Trinamool Congress chief, stating that talking about Bengali Muslims is not “religious extremism.”
“It’s not religious extremism to say that Bengal’s Muslims have one of the worst human development indicators of any minority. If Didi is worried about a bunch of us “from Hyderabad” then she should tell us how BJP won 18/42 LS seats from Bengal,” he stated.
It’s not religious extremism to say that Bengal’s Muslims have one of the worst human development indicators of any minority
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) November 19, 2019
If Didi is worried about a bunch of us “from Hyderabad” then she should tell us how BJP won 18/42 LS seats from Bengal https://t.co/sWW9gyRfH3
As per ANI, he also said, “By making allegations against me you (Mamata) are giving the message to Muslims of Bengal that Owaisi's party has become a formidable force in the state. Mamata Banerjee is showcasing her fear and frustration by making such comments.”
Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM: By making allegations against me you are giving the message to Muslims of Bengal that Owaisi's party has become a formidable force in the state. Mamata Banerjee is showcasing her fear & frustration by making such comments. https://t.co/SQ9iLcMzUc pic.twitter.com/obG19iGu8L
— ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2019
Owaisi, the president of the AIMIM, is a four-time Member of Parliament who represents the constituency of Hyderabad in the Lok Sabha. His party, the AIMIM, sprang a surprise in the state of West Bengal when the AIMIM candidate Qamrul Hoda won the Kishanganj assembly seat in the bye-elections held last month. He defeated BJP’s Sweety Singh by a margin of over 10,000 votes.
West Bengal Chief Minister’s statement assumes significance as Assembly elections will be held in the state in 2021 and Mamata Banerjee has reportedly been making attempts to woo the Hindu vote bank to counter the BJP’s rise in the state.