Owaisi Challenges BJP's Infiltrator Allegations in Bihar: Accuses NDA of Muslim Defamation Ahead of 2025 Elections

Kishanganj:

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has rejected BJP's allegation that the Opposition uses infiltrators as a vote bank, accusing the NDA alliance in Bihar of defaming Muslims while ignoring their development. During an exclusive interview with NDTV's Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal in Kishanganj ahead of the second phase of the Bihar assembly elections 2025, Owaisi questioned the logic behind the illegal migration charge.

"Has there been a gold rush here? I would have understood people flocking to the state if oil reserves were discovered. Young Indians migrate across the country, but instead of supporting them, you stigmatize them as infiltrators. The Muslims in Seemanchal chose India as their homeland during Partition, refusing to move to Bangladesh," stated the 56-year-old Hyderabad MP.

He argued that if infiltrators exist, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should be held accountable, as they have controlled both central and Bihar governments for many years.

"Nitish Kumar is your chief minister; Amit Shah is your Union home minister; Narendra Modi is the prime minister. How could infiltrators enter under your administration? If infiltrators exist, it demonstrates your failure. You control the BSF and Seema Suraksha Bal. You criticize the state government, but that's also yours in Bihar," Owaisi pointed out.

Dismissing the infiltrator accusation, he claimed the BJP cannot even identify 10 infiltrators in Bihar. "Having neglected and discriminated against the Muslim community living here in substantial numbers, you're now defaming them."

In the 2020 Bihar elections, Owaisi's party achieved a remarkable success by winning five seats in the Seemanchal region, which represents a significant portion of Bihar's 17% Muslim population. Four of these elected representatives later defected to Rashtriya Janata Dal.

During the interview, Owaisi alleged governmental neglect of Seemanchal, describing it as Bihar's most underdeveloped region. "The Prime Minister mentions building AIIMS and IITs in Patna, Darbhanga, and Bhagalpur, but can't specify what he accomplished in Araria. From this perspective, Seemanchal remains unchanged... when residents here observe developments in Rajgir, Patna, and Bodh Gaya that aren't happening locally, nearly a crore of young people disappear."

Regarding Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's allegation of vote theft, Owaisi emphasized the necessity of multiple voter list verifications before elections, suggesting possible irregularities.

"Our election cell examines voter lists three times: before and after name additions and during elections. Remember, you're competing against the BJP. They can make you disappear even if you blink," he concluded.