Bihar Assembly polls: Asaduddin Owaisi denies secret deal, meet with Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Scotching the speculation that there was a secret understanding between the BJP and the MIM in the Bihar elections, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who is emerging as the leading face of Indian Muslims, rubbished reports of his reported meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week.

Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Owaisi made it clear that he has “nothing to do with the BJP” and he “always stood against the saffron brand of politics”. There has also been no official confirmation by the PMO of a meeting between Mr Owaisi and the PM.

There was speculation that Mr Owaisi was propped up by the BJP to split the 16 per cent Muslim vote in Bihar, that is one of the main votebanks of the JD(U) and RJD. It was further claimed that such reports were circulated to “damage the credibility and image of Owaisi”, who has been standing “tall” against Hindutva politics.

The BJP said on Friday that it has “nothing to do with Owaisi”. A senior BJP leader claimed “there is no truth in reports that the BJP has any pact, secret or whatsoever, with the MIM, and that there has been no such meeting between Owaisi and top BJP leaders, including the Prime Minister”. The BJP claimed “such reports were basically to forward the poltical agenda of a particular political group”. For the BJP, “such malacious reports will help advance the vested interests of another political group”.

Incidentally, Mr Owaisi’s foray into Bihar has disturbed the secular parties, particularly the JD(U)-RJD combine. Over the years, secular outfits in Bihar have been taking the Muslim vote for granted without doing much for the community, a section of its leaders said.