'Politics in the name of Muslims': Sajid Rashidi hits back at Owaisi
Maulana Sajid Rashidi accuses Asaduddin Owaisi of playing identity politics over electoral roll deletions in Telangana.
A sharp political rift has emerged within the community as Maulana Sajid Rashidi, President of the All India Imam Association (AIAA), launched a scathing attack on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. Rashidi accused the Hyderabad MP of using the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to fuel identity politics and spread misinformation.
The confrontation follows Owaisi's recent warnings regarding the alleged misuse of Form 7, a document used to object to or request the deletion of names from electoral rolls. While Owaisi claimed there is a targeted attempt to exclude Muslim voters, Rashidi dismissed these assertions as unsubstantiated claims designed to stir panic.
The Form 7 Dispute
The controversy centers on how Form 7 is being utilized during the voter list revision process. Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that certain groups are filing false applications to remove Muslim voters from the rolls. He specifically pointed out a trend where printed forms are submitted mentioning the target's name, but the details of the person filing the form remain anonymous.
Addressing the 'Jalsa-e-Milad-un-Nabi' at Milad Maidan, Owaisi issued a stern warning to the authorities. "If false Form 7 are being filed, we appeal to the Election Commission to take action against those responsible," he stated, adding that if the "drama" continues, Hyderabad will witness protests larger than those seen at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
Rashidi Demands Concrete Data
Maulana Sajid Rashidi, responding to these claims, argued that Owaisi is ignoring the standard administrative protocols that govern such requests. He noted that Form 7 is a statutory tool available to every voter, not just one specific community, to report deaths or changes in residence.
"Regarding Form 7, although Asaduddin Owaisi is a barrister, he should also know and understand that this provision is not meant only for Muslims. It is for every voter," Rashidi told ANI. He emphasized that officials are required to conduct thorough verifications, including speaking to neighbours, before any name is actually deleted from the rolls.
Rashidi challenged the AIMIM leader to move beyond rhetoric and provide empirical evidence to support his claims. He highlighted several key points in his rebuttal:
- Lack of Evidence: Rashidi questioned the lack of specific data regarding the 92,000 names removed in Telangana.
- Verification of Identity: He demanded that Owaisi establish exactly how many of those removed individuals were Muslims.
- Proof of Misuse: He insisted that the AIMIM must prove how many of those Muslims were victims of misused Form 7 applications.
Accusations of Identity Politics
The AIAA President did not mince words when describing the AIMIM chief's tactics. He suggested that the pattern of picking an administrative issue and linking it to the Muslim community is a recurring political strategy.
"What is happening here is simply politics in the name of Muslims... They pick up an issue, connect it with Muslims and play politics around it. Muslims are not that unaware," Rashidi remarked, urging senior leaders to refrain from sensationalizing administrative procedures without facts.
As the tension escalates, the focus remains on the Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana, whom Owaisi has urged to intervene and ensure the integrity of the electoral rolls.