We are kingmakers in upcoming polls: Akbaruddin Owaisi

Emphasising that All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) will play the role of a kingmaker in the upcoming State Assembly elections, former Chandrayangutta MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi has said that whoever became the Chief Minister in the past has had to “bow” before his party while indicating that the same would continue in the future.

Speaking at a party workers meeting at Fatima Owaisi Educational Campus in Bandlaguda, Akbaruddin Owaisi said: “The truth is whoever became the CM in the past has had to bow down before AIMIM. Whether it is Babu (Nara Chandrababu Naidu), Reddys, Kiran (Kiran Kumar Reddy) or KCR (K Chandrasekhar Rao), they have to agree to our demands.” 

Akbaruddin, who has been aggressively campaigning in Chandrayangutta constituency made the above comments on late Sunday. “It’s true that we can’t become kings. But its also true that nobody can become kings without our permission. If we have the power to put somebody in power, then we also have the power to pull them down,” he said. Akbaruddin, who is also AIMIM’s floor leader in the Assembly, took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech. 

Slamming the PM for demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax (GST), rising prices of petrol and unemployment, Akbaruddin said: “This is what happens when you make a ‘chaiwala a chowkidar’. When a person has already excelled in one profession, he should have been kept in that role.” He also took on cow vigilantes, challenging them to stop beef exports from India.

“In India, beef eaters are murdered, but India feeds beef to the whole world,” he claimed.  He also called out the BJP government for their alleged double standards on the usage of law.  “When the triple talaq ordinance came into force, it was urged that people follow the law. However, when Sabarimala judgement was passed, Amit Shah said that the law should take religious issues into consideration.”