Asaduddin Owaisi, The Fierce Politician
Asaduddin Salahuddin Owaisi is a daring politician of India. Hailed from a political family of Hyderabad, Owaisi often finds himself being compared to Muhammed Ali Jinnah for his fierce presence in the political arena, though Owaisi never showed any likeness towards Jinnah’s political policies or theories.
Owaisi is the National President of All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). He is the third national president of the party, before that the position was held by his grand father and father. Though AIMIM is a minority party, its voices are often heard louder among other national parties in the country.
Asaduddin Owaisi started his political career in 1994. He contested in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Charminar constituency. The constituency has been a forte of his party since 1967, and Owaisi won the election over the margin of 40,000 votes.
Owaisi has been a strong opposer of the incumbent BJP right from the beginning of his political career. When the Communist parties withdrew the support for the United Progressive Alliance in 2008, which led the Indian government, citing the Indo-US nuclear deal signed between then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W. Bush, Owaisi announced his vote of confidence. He said that the prime priority was to prevent BJP ascending to power.
He said, “We will express our reservations on the foreign policy impact but at no cost would we like to see the BJP coming in to power, at no cost we would like to see Mr Advani (Lal Krishna Advani), who is an accused in Babri Masjid demolition case becoming the prime minister of this great nation, thereby destroying the future of Muslims and weakening the secularism”.
Owaisi’s support in Hyderabad is unshakeable. in 2009 Lok Sabha election, Zahid Ali Khan, the editor-in-chief of The Siaasat Daily, was fielded against Owaisi and was supported by rival Telugu Desam Party, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Owaisi emerged victorious defeating Khan over the margin of 110,000 votes. His winning margin was increased by 10,000 votes as compared to the 2004 election.
Owaisi often raised the issues of the minority communities in the Parliament. In 2014, Asaduddin, was honored with the Sansad Ratna Award for his performance in the 15th session of Indian parliament. During this period, he asked 1080 questions in the Parliament compared to the national average of 292. He was honoured with the “Best Parliamentarian Lok Sabha’ award in 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021, and 2022, highlighting Owaisi’s sustained dedication to his role as a parliamentarian.
Asaduddin Owaisi is often prey to controversies and hatred for his daring approaches. His predominant political rival BJP linked him with a proliferation of terrorist activity in Hyderabad. In 2016, Owaisi was arrested for sedition after providing legal aid to five members of alleged Islamic State terrorist cell. The complaint, filed to the Eleventh Metropolitan Magistrate court accused Owaisi of, “directly or indirectly helping the ISIS”. He was accused financially supporting the terrorists which were claimed to be in Hyderabad. He was also accused of being the ‘B-team of BJP”, by Congress.
As Owaisi is getting ready to contest from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency for the fourth time, he is once again at the centre stage for his political battle with the BJP.
