‘Govt didn’t create strategic petroleum reserves’
Owaisi pointed out that the BJP-ruled government did not create strategic petroleum reserves even though it has been power for 11 years. As a result, today we are facing urea, LPG, gas and crude oil crisis. “After the Assembly elections, the prices of petrol and diesel will be increased,” the MP from Hyderabad said. He added that the small vendors are bearing the brunt of the current crisis and the situation will get worse if it drags on.
Owaisi questioned: “Why is US deciding our oil imports? Why is India begging to US and seeking Trump’s approval to buy Russian oil? Where has our self-respect gone?”
He pointed out that all ships of China and Russia are being passed without any hassle from the Strait of Hormuz, but India has to request Iran to give passage to two vessels from the waterway. “Even these vessels aren’t carrying enough to meet the demand of fuel and the demand-supply gap is yawning,” Owaisi added.
‘Doesn’t untreated sewage going into Ganga hurt religious sentiments?’
Responding to allegations about an iftar party on a boat and claims that chicken biryani waste was dumped into the Ganga, Owaisi underlined that so much untreated sewage flows into the river but nobody is bothered about it. “Doesn’t sewage finding its way into river Ganga hurt religious sentiments and cause outrage?” he asked, adding many cruises and waste released from them also pollute the river.
‘Constitution must be upheld’
Citing alleged cases of discrimination and ill-treatment being faced by Muslims in India, he said they are as much citizens of the country as anyone else and did not come from elsewhere.
“The Constitution must be upheld — we should have faith in it and run the country in adherence with its principles,” the MP pointed out.
“This country has no (official) religion. But the ruling party has turned nationalism into Hindu nationalism (given it a Hindu identity),” Owaisi said.
He added that he didn’t need a certificate to prove that he is an Indian, while raising concern about narratives spread by Hindutava groups about celebrating ‘Khoon Ki Holi’ on Eid in Delhi’s Uttam Nagar.
Hits out at Assam CM
The Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi accused Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma of promoting hatred between religious communities. He alleged that the Assam CM circulated a “violent video” depicting “shooting Muslims” and hit out at his remark urging people to pay Rs 2 less to “miyan Musalman”. Owaisi said that if Sarma needed Rs 2, he could give it himself, questioning why a Chief Minister would make such statements. He pointed out that Sarma is saying that he will create an environment where Muslims will be forced to go out of the state.
Owaisi also pointed at that Supreme Court-monitored National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Assam, noting that around 20 lakh people were left out of the list. Of these, he said 2.5 lakh were Muslims while 17.5 lakh were non-Muslims, asking who should then be considered “infiltrators”. He criticised the move to grant citizenship to non-Muslims under the Citizenship Amendment Act while asking Muslims to produce documents to prove that they are Indians. He added that with agencies like the Border Security Force and the Home Ministry under government control, questions remain about how infiltrators are entering the state.
He further stated that Mizoram CM reportedly said that around 2,000 foreigners entered the state and later moved into Myanmar. Owaisi alleged that Matthew Aaron VanDyke, who was arrested from Kolkata airport recently, was an US agent and bringing drones into India and providing drone training.
His foray into West Bengal
A new tie-up between Owaisi’s AIMIM and Humayun Kabir’s Janata Unnayan Party is heating up the poll contest in parts of West Bengal, particularly in the Muslim-dominated districts of Malda and Murshidabad, along with some pockets of Birbhum. When asked about it, Owaisi said there are many issues in these regions. He said people in Murshidabad are suffering from arsenic contamination and the problem needs to be addressed.