“People Of Hyderabad Are Not Cattle": Owaisi’s Retort To Modi’s “Lease To MIM” Comment

Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s recent remarks in Hyderabad during an election rally, accusing the Congress and BRS of ‘leasing’ the city to AIMIM, have drawn a sharp response from AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) is winning the Hyderabad constituency for the last nine elections since 1989. Asaduddin Owaisi’s Salahuddin Owaisi had won the 1984 from the constituency as an independent before he started winning the Lok Sabha elections there for five consecutive terms.

Reacting to Modi”s statement, Owaisi asserted, “Modi came to Telangana and said that the Hyderabad seat has been given on lease to Owaisi. The people of Hyderabad are not cattle. We are citizens, not the property of political parties.”

Owaisi further emphasized the historical significance of Hyderabad”s electoral choices, stating, “For forty years, Hyderabad has defeated the evil ideology of Hindutva and entrusted AIMIM. inshallah Hindutva will be defeated again.”

Turning the focus towards electoral funding, Owaisi criticized Modi”s ties with certain entities, alleging, “Modi is bonded to those who gave his party ₹6000 crores through electoral bonds. In return, he has leased/sold India’s assets to his ‘sponsors’.”

Highlighting income inequality, Owaisi pointed out, “Modi appeased them so much that today 21 people have more wealth than 70 crore Indians in total. Those 21 are his real ‘parivar’.”

In this Lok Sabha election, Owaisi is pitted against BJP’s Kompella Madhavi Latha, BRS’ Gaddam Srinivas Yadav and Congress’ Mohammad Waliullah Sameer. In the last two elections, the barrister-politician who is an ardent critic of PM Modi and BJP, had won from the constituency with the majority of more than 2 lakh votes.