Majlis leader Sr Owaisi's interview

MiM leader Asaduddin Owaisi with Party workers at a Dharna organized against Police Torture in Hyderabad

Muslims are still with us: Owaisi

Wednesday, 24 March , 2004, 11:15
Sultan Salauddin Owaisi, President, Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and sitting Member of Parliament of the Hyderabad Lok Sabha, is going strong. At the age when most of the people plan retirement, he does not want to take chances, but tries to give a `fitting reply' to political opponents such as - Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Owaisi clarifies that he is going to contest from his Parliament constituency and his sons from their assembly seats in Hyderabad. He also denies his party supports the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). Excerpts from exclusive interview with Sify.com:
Are you planning for any poll alliance?
We will not have any alliance either pre or post or even seat adjustments with any political party. We have decided to contest independently and fight for our cause.

You have been winning Hyderabad Parliament Seat a number of times. Keeping your age in mind, are you planning not to contest polls this time?
No. I am not. I am very much in poll fray from Hyderabad Parliament seat. I am not fielding my sons including Asaduddin Owaisi (Charminar MLA) from Lok Sabha. They will, as usual, contest from their assembly segments respectively.
What is your main strategy for choosing candidates for the coming polls?
I'll not see that he is new or old for politics. I will only consider their commitment and winning chances. That is our main criteria.
MIM has been maintaining low-profile as far as political campaign is concerned. What are your plans for campaign?
Except on Fridays, a huge number of people come to Darr-Ul-salam (MIM party headquarter). This is more or less like a campaign for us. We are not like TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu to organise huge shows or conventions and bring the people. We serve the people all the time that is the main reason people respect our party and our family as well.
Telugu Desam Party is planning to field candidates at some seats where MIM party is strong? What is your comment on this?
I never worried about BJP or TDP. I strongly believe that people are with us. They were with us, they are now, they will be with us, and for that matter, we are always with them. We give them food, we provide basic facilities like roads, drainage and hospitals in Old City of Hyderabad. We support people whenever they need like the recent of TRANSCO raids against local residents.
A section of people belonging to your community has found fault with you. What is your comment on this?
I feel that TDP and BJP -- both -- are communal parties. Under the cover of secularism, TDP is not different from BJP. TDP does the same things what its partner BJP is doing. They always try to mislead Muslim community in the name of votes. I want to clarify that Muslims are with us.
How far it is correct that MIM is extending support to banned organisation Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT)?
This is wrong. This is a false propaganda being practiced by BJP and TDP. We are totally secular.
Nobody dares question our integrity. I want to clarify that the minorities, SC, ST, and Backward Communities are with MIM. Our party is run by backward class people not like BJP which caters to and gives importance to the forward cast community