"I want a coalition Government (Khichdi Sarkar) in 2024": Asaduddin Owaisi

In an exclusive interview to ABP News’ iconic show ‘Press Conference,’ Asaduddin Owaisi, President of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) & Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, said that for the benefit of the country he wants a Khichdi Sarkar (Coalition Government) in the year 2024. “Main chahta hoon ki desh me Khichdi Sarkar bane,” said Owaisi.

Drawing an analogy with the 2004 UPA coalition Government, Owaisi said, “From 2004 to 2014 the rate of growth was 9% but at present we are not even at 3-4%. The present Government under Modi and BJP would say that this is due to covid but the fact is that the low growth rate was already set in an year before the full impact of covid was noticed. So, there was a downtrend in the economy before covid and even before the Ukrainian war” (Main khichdi Sarkar isliye chahta hoon ki 2004 se 2014 tak 9 phisadi ka vikaas dar humara tha lekin yahan par to 3-4 phisadi bhi nahi ho raha hai. To Modi aur BJP bolegi ki covid aa gaya lekin bhai covid se pehle bhi economy gir rahi thi. Ukraine se pehle bhi economy gir rahi thi).

“If we fight against Modi on a one-to-one basis then we will not gain. Therefore, we need to fight on all the 543 seats (read with our combined strength) that we have. The fight should only be on the basis of what has been done and what all couldn’t be achieved. If we fight one to one with him he will get an opportunity to hide behind the Nehrus, Mughals and the system,” said Owaisi on the question of how opposition should take on the present Government. He also felt that the opposition should not give an opportunity to digress the issues, and this helps his candidates to hide behind Modi. 

Questioning the effectiveness issues of ‘Nationalism’ raised by the BJP Government Owaisi said, “If their nationalism is so strong then how come China captured 1000 kms of the Indian territory” (Humko unse puchna padega ki unka rashtravad itna takatwar hai to China ne kaise ek hazaar kilometre tak kabza kar liya).

Responding to a question on why he is supporting Nitish Kumar’s Government while he has publicly opposed Nitish Kumar in the past, Owaisi said, “For the benefit of the people of Bihar it was necessary to stop the BJP. However, Nitish has changed positions and political alignments from time to time. For instance, in 2002, despite being the Minister of Railways in BJP government during the Godhra riots, he was not interested in conducting an enquiry of the incident. “Nitish kabhi yahan to kabhi wahan hote hain,” said Owaisi.  

Questioning the intentions of both the U.P and the Central Government, Owaisi alleged that by conducting the surveys of Madarsas the U.P Government is introducing a mini-NRC (National Register of Citizens) in the state of UP. He said, “Carrying out a survey of Madarsas is like having a mini-NRC” (Madarson ka survey Chhota NRC hai). He further added that some of the Madarsas in U.P may not be officially registered with the state board but are, definitely, not illegal.

“Uttar Pradesh Government claims that the National Commission for Child Rights has asked for such a survey but conducting a survey does not come under their purview at all. This National Commission for Child Rights is being exploited only against the Christians and Muslims. It has become a safe haven to spread Hindutva ideology” (Ye adda bana hua hai Hindutva ideology ke liye), Owaisi said, while accusing the misuse of state machinery by the Government.

For the full interview watch Press Conference with Asaduddin Owaisi only on ABP News at 7.50 PM on September 9, 2022.