As the political discourse intensifies in the run-up to the upcoming elections in Telangana, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has responded to accusations by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi alleged that AIMIM accepts funds from the BJP and fields candidates against the Congress in several states.
Owaisi contended that Rahul Gandhi’s accusations are motivated by bias against his religious identity. Speaking at a public rally in Hyderabad, he addressed Gandhi directly, saying, “Rahul Gandhi, you make these accusations because my name is Asaduddin. Because I have a beard on my face and wear a skullcap, that’s why you make allegations of taking money against me… It is your hatred against this name, and you have hatred against those donning a beard and skullcap. That’s why you make the allegations.”
Gandhi’s allegations were made during a poll rally in Telangana’s Kalwakurthy, where he claimed, “Wherever we go to fight the elections… Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tripura, wherever the Congress party fights with the BJP, MIM party takes money from the BJP and puts up candidates there.”
In response, Owaisi questioned Gandhi’s credibility, suggesting that he was “parroting” information provided to him in writing. He went on to ask how much money Rahul Gandhi had received to lose elections from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
“Did you (Rahul) take money from the BJP to lose elections in 2014 and 2019?” Owaisi inquired, raising questions about financial transactions in the political arena. He also pointed out that several Congress members, like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada, had joined the BJP, and there were no accusations of financial dealings against them.
The political exchange between the leaders underscores the charged atmosphere as Telangana gears up for the upcoming elections. The 119-member Telangana legislative assembly is scheduled to vote in a single phase on November 30, 2023. The allegations and responses further intensify the competition among political parties vying for victory in the state.
Sources By Agencies