Asad Owaisi attacks Mulayam, pitches for dalit-muslim unity in UP

Pitching for dalit-muslim unity, controversial AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi today said his party will write a new chapter in Uttar Pradesh politics by bringing together the "two most oppressed communities". "We will write a new chapter in the state. The two most oppressed communities Dalits and Muslims should join hands on the slogan of 'Jai Bhim, Jai Meem'," he said while addressing an election rally ahead of Bikapur assembly bypoll near Ayodhya where he did not mention the Babri Masjid issue. He lashed out at ruling Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, accusing them of cosying up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and not allowing Muslim leaders in their party to speak up. AIMIM has fielded a Dalit candidate Pradeep, who belongs to Kori community, from the Muslim dominated assembly constituency of Bikapur in Faizabad where bypoll will be held on February 13 following the death of Samajwadi Party's sitting MLA Mitrasen Yadav. "Why are Mulayam and Akhilesh scared of me? They have denied me permission 15 times to visit in the last three years after giving different reasons," Owaisi said while addressing the gathering at a college ground in Sohawal area. "Now I will come again and again to Uttar Pradesh. You will find me here on all ocassion," the Hyderabad MP said. Attacking Mulayam, he asked why they SP chief "invited Narendra Modi, the man responsible for Gujrat carnage, to his place to attend a marriage ceremony". "All his family members were busy taking selfies on mobile phones (with the PM)," Owaisi said. Bahujan Samaj Party has decided not to field its candidate in Bikapur assembly constituency. Hitting out at Muslim MLAs of Samajwadi Party, Owaisi alleged none of them ever raised even a single question for the community and "whenever any one tried to speak, they got a 'shut-up' from Mulayam".