New Delhi: AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi has taken a dual swipe at both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his speech at the Aaj Tak G20 Summit.
In his address, Owaisi labelled Modi as the 'chowkidar' (watchman) and Rahul Gandhi as the 'dukaandar' (shopkeeper). He criticized both leaders for not addressing the issues faced by Muslims in the country, accusing them of having a superficial alliance resembling a 'dukandar' and 'chowkidar' setup.
Owaisi's comments draw upon Modi's self-styled identity as a "chowkidar," symbolizing his anti-corruption stance, and Rahul Gandhi's 'Mohabat ki Dukaan' phrase, used following the Congress's victory in the Karnataka Assembly Elections.
He accused the two leaders of overlooking the concerns of Muslims, reflecting a political alignment based on public image rather than substantive action.
Regarding his party's stance on alliances, Owaisi dismissed the idea of joining the opposition alliance named INDIA, referring to it as a "dangerous love." He likened the ruling NDA to "mehboob" (beloved) and the opposition INDIA bloc to "mehbooba" (beloved), implying a cautious approach towards both factions.
Owaisi also addressed the issue of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), asserting that its implementation would infringe upon religious freedoms. In response to queries about women's empowerment through the UCC, he redirected attention to PM Modi’s lack of action in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case, highlighting unfulfilled promises.
As the G20 Summit approaches, Owaisi questioned whether India would showcase the "civil war in Manipur" to international leaders and expressed scepticism about the issuance of a joint statement at the summit's conclusion.