Muslims support Mamata Banerjee out of compulsion: Muslim body

The national spokesperson of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) said that Muslims in Bengal have seen through Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's vote bank politics. On his maiden visit to Kolkata as the national spokesperson of the Muslim body, Syed Asim Waqar said that people are looking for an alternative who would truly speak for the community in the state. In what is being touted as testing water in Bengal before the party is formally launched, Waqar said that Muslims were down-trodden in Bengal.

"I have come here to find out the condition of Muslims living here. I will return and present a report to our party national president and MP Asaduddin Owaisi. He will decide the next move — whether to launch the party here in Bengal formally or not," Waqar said at the sidelines of his deliberation.

He alleged that Muslims have been used only for their votes. "Mamata had sweet-talked Muslims into voting for her but has actually done little. She has put up an image of a Muslim appeaser, but I don't know if she is really appeasing the Muslims or the Hindus. At Murshidabad, where Muslim conglomeration is the largest, there is not a single university. Students have to travel hundreds of kilometres for higher studies. On the other hand, in the Hindu-majority district of Birbhum, there are already three universities and one more is in the making. People have voted for her out of compulsion because there is no alternative for them in Bengal," he said.

Asked what would they do in case there is a resistance by the TMC as Mamata had earlier said that AIMIM would not be allowed to make a foray into Bengal, he said, "Someone sent me a video some time ago, where Mamata Banerjee had said that she would not allow AIMIM to come to Bengal. I don't know the reason though. When we were not in Bengal, she was petrified of us. Now that we are here, let us see what she has to say."

Talking about Muslim leaders who intend to join AIMIM, he said all those who are genuinely interested in uplifting the Muslim community are welcome to strengthen the party in Bengal.

During his speech, he raised incidents of atrocities on Muslims, including the cases of Pehlu Khan to Afrazul Khan. He also donated a cheque of Rs 50,000 to the family of Afrazul. "We don't want the Muslims to be ill-treated. We voted the TMC to power. Why cant seek happiness and jobs in return?" he added.

‘All are welcome’

Talking about Muslim leaders who intend to join AIMIM, Waqar said all those who are genuinely interested in uplifting the Muslim community are welcome to strengthen the party in Bengal.