Owaisi blames Pakistan for Pulwama attack, Modi for political failure

Mumbai, Feb 23 (IANS) The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday accused Pakistan for the Pulwama terror strike, but blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the "political failure" to prevent it.

He also said the JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar was not a "Jaish-e-Mohammed" (The Prophet), but a "Jaish-e-Shaitan" (The Devil).

The Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had claimed responsibility for the terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14 that killed 40 troopers.

"Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan should stop bothering about Indian Muslims. He must not forget that his country's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, was from Mumbai and the Indian Muslims rejected his plea to go to Pakistan, and willingly chose to live in India," Owaisi said.

He said if needed, not only the Indian Muslims, but Hindus, Christians and all other communities -- who co-exist harmoniously -- will not hesitate to give up their lives if the nation is threatened.

"After he gets time from his photography sessions, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi must introspect how 200 kg RDX used in Pulwama sneaked in...who is behind it," Owaisi said while addressing a rally of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, along with Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh President Prakash Ambedkar, at the Shivaji Park.

He was was not this India's "diplomatic, political and intelligence failure." "Was the intelligence department sleeping after eating 'biryani' when 40 of our beloved security personnel were killed."

Taking a dig at Modi, Owaisi said: "I also say this is a diplomatic failure as Modi had invited the Chinese President (Xi Jinping) to Ahmedabad and enjoyed a swing ride with him, but he (Xi) is still supporting Pakistan."

Questioning Modi's delayed responses on various challenges, Owaisi said now "he (Modi) is saying we are not against Kashmiris but against terror."

"Yet he doesn't have the courage to dismiss the (Meghalaya) Governor (Tathagatha Roy) for his comments on Kashmir... He spoke on mob lynchings only after a week, and six days after the Una incident," Owaisi said.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Modi was in alliance with the Mehbooba Mufti's government in J&K for over two years, but what did it achieve in tackling terror. "Stop whipping up emotions...the people have questions and they demand answers," he said.

Owaisi also accused the BJP government and all its ministers of "targeting Muslims", attacking them, insulting them and even asking them to go to Pakistan in the past five years.

"But Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj is invited to address the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which still considers Kashmir as 'Indian occupied territory'," said Owaisi.

Stating that the BJP has only "fooled" the people during its tenure, Owaisi targeted the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party. He said they will do nothing for the Muslims, dalits, tribals, OBCs, SCs or the poor and the downtrodden.

He urged them to unitedly vote for Prakash Ambedkar in the coming Lok Sabha elections to ensure a better future for the children and the future generations.

He also asked the Muslims to stop supporting the Congress, which only destroyed the minorities for the past 70 years.

Ambedkar also addressed the rally later and urged the people to beware of the designs of both the BJP and the Congress and elect the alternative offered by the Dalit-Muslim front of BBM-AIMIM and other parties.