Mumbai: Rejecting any kind of understanding between All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and BJP, and refuting allegations that he had a secret meeting with Narendra Modi, Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday said Modi, BJP and RSS are his enemies and they will remain so.
"I take pride in that and they will continue to be. I am not against Hindus, I am not against any religion. I am only saying that social indicators of Muslims and Dalits are abysmally low. They need a voice in Parliament", Owaisi said in an interview with India Today TV's Rajdeep Sardesai.
"I don't differentiate between Modi or Advani. For me they are all equal. They are from the ideology of RSS", Owaisi said in a veiled reference to Nitish Kumar's long term alliance with the BJP.
In reply to a question about his alleged meeting with prime minister Narendra Modi or other BJP leaders, Owaisi said, "It is completely untrue. Wild and baseless allegation has been made against me and I am in the process of sending legal notice to people who are making these allegations."
"If they don't apologise I will file a criminal defamation. I know that one JD(U) leader has publicly claimed that Owaisi has taken money from the BJP. I want that gentleman to prove that in the court. He will have to pay through his nose if I file a case against him", he added.
Owaisi also rejected the notion that the AIMIM is a party of Muslims. He also said that the AIMIM will give party tickets to non-Muslims in the upcoming Bihar elections.
"There is only district where Muslims are in majority - Kishanganj. I am aiming for overall development of Seemanchal which includes everyone - Hindu, Muslim, Dalit, Mahadalit ... It is wrong to say I am coming only for Muslims. We will give tickets to non-Muslim candidates also", Owaisi said.
Modi's statement came at a time when JD (U) and other parties part of the Grand Alliance are alleging that the AIMIM has a secret understanding with the BJP and Owaisi had held a secret meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Interestingly, not only Owaisi, but BJP spokesperson MJ Akbar too has refuted allegations of any such meeting.
Allegations and counter allegations for political mileage have escalated in Bihar ever since the Election Commission announced the election schedule.
As per the schedule announced by the EC, elections in Bihar will be held in five phases from October 12 whereas counting of votes will be done on November 08.
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