All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi urged people in Adilabad to put an end to communalism, asking them to use their right to vote decisively, and for his party, in the forthcoming civic polls.
Mr Owaisi was addressing a public meeting in Adilabad where the AIMIM has fielded 19 candidates. Mr Owaisi said silence in a democracy tantamount to an acceptance of politics driven by intimidation and “bulldozer” symbolism.
Appealing to voters to exercise their right, he said that the use of the vote was essential to resist what he described as coercive governance.
Mr Owaisi promised to raise infrastructure demands of Adilabad, including the construction of a railway underbridge and an overbridge, in Parliament. He said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party were to act on these demands before him, it would only be because it feared public pressure.
Touching upon the issue of livelihoods, Mr Owaisi addressed members of the Qureshi community, assuring them that if AIMIM corporators were elected, a slaughterhouse would be constructed at a location closer to Adilabad. Referring to the community’s traditional occupation, he said that the Qureshis were engaged in meat trade for two centuries. He added that this was protected under Article 19 of the Constitution as a fundamental right to livelihood.
Over the past 11 years he alleged that the country had received suspicion instead of trust, lies instead of truth, and fear instead of hope. “The poor got only poverty and misery,” he said.
He also questioned recent remarks attributed to the National Security Adviser about “avenging history”, asking against whom such revenge would be directed. Mr Owaisi further lashed out at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of spreading hatred by targeting minorities, especially against Bengali-speaking Muslims.
Citing constitutional provisions, Mr Owaisi said Articles 256 and 355 empowered the Union Government to ensure that States function in accordance with the Constitution. He appealed to voters to reject attempts to create tension between communities. “In Adilabad, you are adil (just, sincere). Put an end to communalism,” he said.
Published – February 05, 2026 08:43 pm IST
