"No question of being upset...we will decide our strategy": Owaisi on Mahagathbandhan spurning alliance offer for Bihar polls

New Delhi [India], October 11 : All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaddudin Owaisi has said that there is "no question of being upset" over the opposition Mahagathbandhan not accepting his party's offer for alliance for the Bihar assembly polls, and his party will decide its own strategy. He said people of the state understand that "our intentions are right".
In an interview with ANI, Owaisi also hit out at the opposition parties, which accuse AIMIM of being the 'B team of BJP and said that instead of introspecting on their own weaknesses, they falsely target his party.
"There's no question of being upset. They will decide their party's strategy. We will decide our party's strategy. Bihar's prominent maulanas, scholars, intellectuals, doctors, and lawyers all said that Owaisi doesn't want to do this (alliance). I asked, who told you? Then I reminded them that the Vice Presidential election was held a month ago, and who did we vote for?... Now those same people are expressing regret and saying that your intentions are right," he said.
Owaisi had said last month that Bihar AIMIM chief Akhtarul Iman, MLA, had written to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav proposing an alliance for the Bihar polls. He said that his party was ready to contest six seats, but there has been no response.
Owaisi had earlier this week taken digs at RJD over Mahagathbandhan parties spurning the party's offer of alliance, saying that their "arrogance" will harm them.
Bihar will go to the polls in two phases on November 6 and 11 and counting will be held on November 14. The Election Commission announced the dates after the completion of SIR.
Asked about the party's issues for the Bihar Elections, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the party will raise several issues, including "under-development" in the four Seemanchal districts. He alleged "misgovernance" and "corruption" in Bihar
"Our political journey in Bihar began from the land of Seemanchal. We said that justice should be done to Seemanchal. Seemanchal is underdeveloped. Human development indicators are very poor. That's one thing. Secondly, there's misgovernance and corruption in Bihar; there are numerous issues. And then there's a sense of alienation within the Muslim community. Alienation means that every community, every caste has a leadership, but about 19% of Muslims in Bihar lack leadership," Owaisi said.
Answering a query, he said there is no perception among people that his party is 'B' team of BJP but noted that attempts are made by some parties in the opposition in this direction.
He took a dig at these parties and said if they think that "bringing Owaisi into everything will cure the disease" then he has no problem.
"There is no such perception. ..If you (opposition) think that bringing Owaisi into everything will cure the disease, then I have no problem with that..." "There is no perception like this. People want to create that. But we have said it many times, and we are saying it again today, that if Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister of this country three times, it's not the fault of Indian Muslims," he said.
"PM Narendra Modi is getting about fifty per cent of the non-Muslim votes in the polls. He's getting 37-38%, so what's my role in that? If you want to crown me, I'll accept. I have no objection. If you think that bringing Owaisi into everything will cure the disease, then I have no problem with that. Do an introspection and see how weak you are," he added.