Asaduddin Owaisi, the president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), criticised DK Shivakumar, the head of the Karnataka Congress, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday for allegedly seeking votes based on the predominant religion in the forthcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. Owaisi was alluding to the prime minister's plea to cast his vote in honour of Lord Hanuman and DK Shivakumar's pledge to give Lord Hanuman temple development a high priority across the state.
Will Congress promise to rebuild the Hubli dargah that was destroyed? It has given up the fight with the BJP on ideological grounds. If I urged people to increase TAKBIR, would Modi be okay with it? The sky will collapse, Owaisi tweeted.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi asked Karnataka voters to punish abusers by casting their ballots at voting places on May 10. Will anyone in Karnataka accept this abuse culture? he asked, speaking at a public gathering in the Uttara Kannada district. Will anyone enjoy mistreating others? Does anybody like seeing a little guy mistreated? Will Karnataka pardon those who abuse?
“What are you going to do this time, people? Will you discipline them? Are you going to punish the abusers?”Say 'Jai Bajrangbali' as punishment when you press the voting booth button,” he said.
Speaking to a crowd in Kolar, Katnataka, Owaisi said, “What secularism is this if the prime minister asks us to shout Bajrangbali chants while casting our votes? The state president of Congress for Karnataka said today that if Congress wins the election, they would construct more Hanuman temples.
The AIMIM leader said, “If I say here that on May 10th, press the button while chanting 'Allahu Akbar,' then the media will make a hue and cry that Owaisi” has turned the matter communal.
Election day in Karnataka is May 10, and voting and vote counting are scheduled for May 13 and 14, respectively.
