The All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi disclosed the threat to his life while speaking at an election meeting at Modasa in Gujarat thus: ‘Godse ki Naajayaz Aulaad Mujhe Phone Pe Dhamkiyan Detey Hain’ (Godse’s illegitimate progeny issue threats to me on phone). Asaduddin Owaisi was referring to the life threats that he has been receiving from the right-wing terrorists. This is not the first time that the Majlis chief has mentioned about the threat to his life. Neither Narendra Modi government nor the state governments have done anything to secure the able MP’s life. On the other hand, right-wing rioters and goons have allegedly been provided security by the Modi government.
Asaduddin Owaisi asked the huge crowd assembled to hear him at Modasa in Godhra — the epicenter of Narendra Modi’s riot-ridden political journey, the following question: What happened in Modasa in 2008? The crowd responded that a bomb blast took place in Modasa. Giving chilling details of the bomb blast near a mosque Asaduddin Owaisi recalled that seven people had died and a hundred people were injured. The articulate Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi as to why justice was not done? He lamented that Jamal Ghori’s mother is still waiting for justice. Jamal died in the blast. He exhorted the Muslims, Dalits, and Adivasis not to be scared of anyone but fight for their rights provided in the Indian Constitution. He urged the people to strengthen democracy.
Buoyed by the victory of 7 AIMIM candidates in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections, Asaduddin Owaisi thanked the people of Ahmedabad:
‘‘AIMIM is thankful to Ahmedabad for voting for our candidates and believing in them. From Day One, our councilors will work on the promises that we have made. For years, Congress had done nothing but unlike in the past, Muslims will not be ignored.’’
The AIMIM won 7 seats from the Jamalpur and Maktampura wards out of a total 8 seats. It made an impressive debut in the 192-member AMC. This win is a pointer that the AIMIM can easily win 2 legislator seats from these areas in the next Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections. The rising acceptability of Asaduddin Owaisi even in Gujarat will give sleepless nights to Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. It is not just the Muslims but also the Dalits and the Adivasis who are reposing faith in Asaduddin Owaisi. The emphatic win of Beena Parmar on AIMIM’s ticket is a testimony to the coming together of Muslims, Dalits, and Adivasis. The AIMIM – BTP alliance led by Chhotubhai Vasava can be a game-changer in the next Assembly elections. The local body elections in Gujarat to be held on 28th February 2021 will help in strengthening the roots of the Muslim – Tribal alliance.
The following 7 candidates won on the AIMIM tickets in the AMC:
1. Mushtaq Khadiwala 2. Rafeeq Shaikh 3. Beena Parmar 4. Afsana Chishti 5. Zubair Pathan 6. Suhana Mansuri 7. Zainab Shaikh
Now, there seems to be some hope for Juhapura residents who were deliberately ignored and neglected by Narendra Modi even for the basic civic facilities like water, electricity, roads, and schools. Juhapura is one of the largest Muslim concentrated slums in India, which is home to the survivors of the Gujarat Genocide 2002. There is no ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ in this part of Ahmedabad!
