‘Rahul Gandhi is as vindictive as PM Modi’:Owaisi

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi, in a conversation exclusively with The Hindu, spoke about various issues ahead of the Assembly elections in Telangana.

He spoke about his support for the BRS on grounds that regional parties can strengthen marginalized groups.

He also spoke about his opposition to the Congress and BJP; why he hasn’t fielded any women candidates, the contentious issues of snooping and surveillance, and more.

He added: “AIMIM was supporting UPA [United Progressive Alliance], not Congress. You must remember that we opposed bifurcation [of Andhra Pradesh]. I opposed this in Parliament, and said it should be done in a proper way. He [Rahul Gandhi] talks about [us] taking money.

“But he will not use such language for Mr. [Jyotiraditya] Scindia, with whom he went to the Doon School, or against Jitin Prasada. Why is he focused on money so much? There are political differences.

“So, in my view, he is as vindictive as Mr. Narendra Modi. Because both of them don’t tolerate dissent. I won’t bow my head before Badshah Salamat. For him, it is like what [former U.S. President] George Bush used to say after 9/11: “Either you are with us, or with them”. When Uddhav Thackeray said in the Assembly that we are proud Shiv Sainiks who demolished Babri, and brought back bricks, Ashok Chavan and Sharad Pawar were just sitting there. BJP is the notary shop of nationalism, and Congress is the notary shop of secularism. I have opposed BJP, I will oppose him [Mr. Gandhi] also.”