By Dr. Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui
There is a saying – In Rome, do as the Romans do. Who knows this better than Asaduddin Owaisi? The chief of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen made a fervent plea to Muslims and Adivasis to come together for their rights. He invoked the name of Jharkhand’s tallest leader till date – Jaipal Singh Munda, member of the Indian Constituent Assembly and enumerated his struggle and successes in the service of the Adivasis. Owaisi was addressing a mammoth crowd at the Gandhi Stadium in Ranchi on Tuesday.
The rain-drenched was euphoric. Those who could not find a place in the stadium perched on to the nearby hillocks to have a glimpse of Owaisi. It was raining, but it was Owaisi who thundered at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his foreign tours seeking investment even though he bats for Make in India when at home. He lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Jharkhand for the unabated lynchings and numerous other failures.
Asaduddin Owaisi showered praises on Jaipal Singh Munda and reminded that it was Munda who secured reservations for Adivasis on such a strong note that even if the Adivasis change their religion they continue to get reservation benefits. He lauded the hockey skills of Jaipal Singh Munda – the captain of who brought Olympic success to India in 1928.
Barrister Owaisi argued that Muslims and Adivasis must come together along with Dalits as they did during the time of 1857 mutiny. He paid handsome tributes to freedom fighter Sheikh Bhikari who fought the British valiantly and was subsequently hanged in 1858 along with Tikait Singh for stopping the East India company’s forces from capturing Ranchi in 1857.
In his debut speech in Ranchi, Asaduddin Owaisi asked the people to take out Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak (RSS)’s fear from their minds. He urged the Sikhs, Christians and other communities to join the Muslim – Adivasi plank for their rights.
It will be keenly observed how things shape politically in the coming months. Will Jharkhand provide a space to an emerging political force? Will the huge rally get translated into huge queues in the coming Legislative polls this winter? It will be a hot battle in winter. Loyalties change overnight and Jharkhand can be no exception. Can the BJP and Congress brace with this new development? Only time will answer this!
