In a major escalation of political rhetoric in the state of Telangana, the Bhartiya Janata Party has dared the AIMIM, specifically MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi and his minions to try and demolish the memorials built for former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao. The open challenge to the Islamist party came after it dared the TRS government in the state to demolish two landmark monuments of past national leaders. It must be remembered that the saffron party is mounting an unprecedented offensive for the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.
The AIMIM has a known disgust for former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, who they accuse of standing down when the Babri Masjid was demolished. However, the BJP is in no mood to take insults to national icons lying down, and has warned AIMIM that it will be responded with full force if any misadventures were to be attempted on their part. On Wednesday, BJP State president Bandi Sanjay Kumar said if the memorials of PVNR or NTR are demolished, BJP workers will pull down Darussalam, the AIMIM headquarters at Aghapura in Old City, Hyderabad.
“Just a while ago, Akbaruddin Owaisi had demanded that NTR Ghat and PV Narasimha Rao memorial be demolished. Is it your ancestral property? If you demolish PV Narasimha Rao and NTR’s statues or their memorials, within two hours, if necessary, BJP workers will demolish your Darussalam. Do you have the guts to demolish the memorial of PV Narasimha Rao, who strove to develop Hindu dharma? Do you have the courage to demolish the NTR statue?” Sanjay Kumar daringly asked.
Also read: The unexpected performance of BJP in KCR’s Telangana
Earlier, Akbaruddin Owaisi, who has a history of making anti-Hindu and provocative speeches, had alleged that the said memorials had been built upon encroached land, and dared the KCR government in Telangana to demolish them. “Hussainsagar was once spread across 4,700 acres. Today, the area has shrunk to 700 acres. What happened to the remaining 4,000 acres? It went in Necklace Road, to make the samadhis of Narasimha Rao and NTR,” Owaisi Jr. said.
Even the TRS did not remain a mute spectator, and called out the AIMIM for their hateful rhetoric, despite the two parties having a history of tacitly supporting each other electorally. KCR’s party condemned the outrageous statements of Owaisi Jr. and also said that both PVNR and NTR were great personalities who enhanced the respect of Telegu people.
Also read: The Singur moment for the otherwise invincible KCR is here. And he is going down
Meanwhile, amid reports that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will be campaigning for the GHMC polls, Asaduddin Owaisi came out in the open to challenge PM Modi, and dared him to campaign in the old city.
“You (BJP) bring Narendra Modi to Old City and campaign here. We will see what happens. I will give you an answer. Why are you bringing others, bring him! Organise his meeting here and we will see how many seats you will win over here,” Owaisi said.
The bypoll victory of Dubbaka has emboldened the BJP, which is now preparing to go all out in the state of Telangana. The party is laying much importance upon the GHMC polls as they will set the tone for the Assembly elections in 2023, and will be an indicator of how BJP will sail in Telangana for the next three years.
