Mumbai: MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said he was against the ideology of Hindutva and not Hindus. He demanded restoration of reservation facilities for Muslims in Maharashtra and said he would not rest till his demand was met.
Mr Owaisi was speaking at a public rally at Nagpur on Saturday evening. Police gave permission to hold the meeting despite objections raised by the local unit of the BJP and the Shiv Sena.
Braving the unseasonal drizzle, a large number of people attended Mr Owaisi’s first rally in Nagpur.
“I am accused of making communal and controversial remarks. But I am the one who calls a spade a spade.” he said. “Let the RSS bosses get the message loud and clear — I will not sit quiet till this demand of reservation for Muslims is accepted,” asserted Mr Owaisi.
He claimed that injustice had been done to the Muslims by the Fadnavis-led BJP government.
“Mr Prime Minister, in your speech in Parliament, you referred to your vision of Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas (together with all, development for all). You (PM) should pick up the phone and tell Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to extend the benefit of quota to backward Muslims,” he said.
