New Delhi: Asaduddin Owaisi, the head of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday for cutting the budget for minority welfare by 40% and asserted that Muslims in upper caste (UC) are poorer than those who belong to the Hindu Other Backward Class (OBC) in India. This came amid a dispute over the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.
“PM Narendra Modi said that a “group” among Muslims doesn’t let Pasmanda Muslims progress. But the truth is that ALL Muslims are poor and UC Muslims are poorer than OBC Hindus. He’s the PM of all Indians, then why has he cut the Minority Welfare budget by 40%?” Owaisi tweeted.
Owaisi questioned PM Modi further on the government's opposition to the SC reservation for Dalit Muslims.
“Why is his govt opposed to SC reservations for Dalit Muslims? Why is BJP opposed to reservations for backward Muslims? Will he blame this social injustice also on lack of UCC?” he said.
He also asked Congress and other parties whether or not Muslims would get social justice.
“Congress & other “social justice” parties should also tell us: will we get our fair share or should we be happy that your leader wore a skull cap at an iftar party?” said the AIMIM chief.
Owaisi's response came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday criticised opposition parties for engaging in "vote bank politics" and adopting a "policy of appeasement" and claimed those who favour triple talaq are gravely mistreating Muslim women.
The Prime Minister claimed that actions are being taken against persons in the name of the Uniform Civil Code.
“The Muslim brothers and sisters of India have to understand which political parties are taking political advantage of them by provoking them. We are seeing that work is being done to incite such people in the name of UCC,” he further said.
He said that appeasement politics had left many people behind, including the Pasmanda Muslims.
“Pasmanda Muslims have become a victim of politics. Some people are using the politics of appeasement to break the country. The BJP cadre should go and explain this to the Muslims and educate them so that they do not fall victim to such politics,” PM Modi said.
“If they were really supportive of Muslims the Muslim brothers would not be poor or deprived…Supreme Court has also asked for the implementation of the UCC. But these people are hungry only for vote bank,” Modi said accusing the Opposition in the country of employing vote-bank politics of appeasement.