The Crossbill News Desk
During a two-day visit to Bihar’s Seemanchal region, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi signalled a conditional willingness to support the newly formed NDA government, saying cooperation would depend on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ensuring fairness for the region and resisting communal politics.
Addressing supporters in the north-eastern belt where AIMIM secured five assembly seats in the recent polls, Owaisi said, “We extend good wishes to the new government that has been formed in Patna. We can also promise full cooperation provided it does justice to the Seemanchal region and also kept communalism at bay,” news agency PTI reported.
The BJP, now the largest constituent of the NDA in Bihar, has repeatedly alleged widespread “infiltration” in Seemanchal and claimed it is causing a “demographic imbalance”.
Owaisi countered such narratives, asserting that the AIMIM represented not just Muslims but all marginalised communities in the region.
“The AIMIM has been fighting not just for Muslims, but for all people living in Seemanchal, which has a high population of Dalits and tribals, too. We expect the new government to pay some attention to this neglected region, and not remain obsessed with Patna and Rajgir,” he said.
He also criticised what he described as excessive state investment in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s home turf. Rajgir, a prominent Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nalanda district, has recently seen significant government-backed development, including a film city and an international cricket stadium.
Taking a pointed swipe at the RJD, the leading party in the INDIA alliance in Bihar, Owaisi said its strategy of seeking Muslim votes to counter the BJP had failed.
“It has been proven that those who seek the votes of Muslims in the name of stopping the BJP will not be able to stop that party. So, those who have been relying on the MY (Muslim Yadav) combination must do a rethink,” he remarked.
The RJD suffered a major setback in the election, its strength plunging from 75 seats five years ago to just 25 this time.
Addressing supporters in the north-eastern belt where AIMIM secured five assembly seats in the recent polls, Owaisi said, “We extend good wishes to the new government that has been formed in Patna. We can also promise full cooperation provided it does justice to the Seemanchal region and also kept communalism at bay,” news agency PTI reported.
The BJP, now the largest constituent of the NDA in Bihar, has repeatedly alleged widespread “infiltration” in Seemanchal and claimed it is causing a “demographic imbalance”.
Owaisi countered such narratives, asserting that the AIMIM represented not just Muslims but all marginalised communities in the region.
“The AIMIM has been fighting not just for Muslims, but for all people living in Seemanchal, which has a high population of Dalits and tribals, too. We expect the new government to pay some attention to this neglected region, and not remain obsessed with Patna and Rajgir,” he said.
He also criticised what he described as excessive state investment in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s home turf. Rajgir, a prominent Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nalanda district, has recently seen significant government-backed development, including a film city and an international cricket stadium.
Taking a pointed swipe at the RJD, the leading party in the INDIA alliance in Bihar, Owaisi said its strategy of seeking Muslim votes to counter the BJP had failed.
“It has been proven that those who seek the votes of Muslims in the name of stopping the BJP will not be able to stop that party. So, those who have been relying on the MY (Muslim Yadav) combination must do a rethink,” he remarked.
The RJD suffered a major setback in the election, its strength plunging from 75 seats five years ago to just 25 this time.
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