Owaisi is prompting people to sell their votes in municipal polls, alleges Shabbir

Hyderabad: Former Minister and ex-Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir demanded that the State Election Commission take suo motto action against MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi for his statement wherein he asked people to seek money from the Congress party to give votes in municipal elections.

Shabbir Ali, in a media statement on Tuesday, alleged that Asaduddin Owaisi was provoking the voters to ask for money to give votes in the municipal elections. "Being the head of a political party, Asaduddin Owaisi should advise people against taking money from anyone to cast their vote in their favour. Instead, Owaisi is advising people to become corrupt and sell their votes for money," he said and urged the State Election Commission to take notice of Owaisi's statement.

Replying to Owaisi's statement which was published by a national news agency on Twitter, Shabbir Ali replied, "@Asadowaisi Everyone in Telangana knows its TRS & MIM who pay money to buy votes. Your friend CM KCR also shop for opposition MLAs. People also know your price is more than Rs. 2,000. That's why your assets have increased from Rs. 39.02 Lac in 2004 to Rs. 13 Cr in 2019 (as per ECI Affidavit)."

Shabbir Ali said that the culture of buying votes was started and still being practised by TRS and MIM. "Both the parties have no respect for voters and they fix a price for each vote. Everyone in Telangana knows how TRS and MIM lure voters to get their votes and forget them after winning polls. They openly misuse the official machinery and there were allegations of cash transported by TRS leaders in police vehicles in Huzurnagar by-elections. Congress never indulged in such practices as it believes in free and fair elections," he said.

The Congress leader said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has repeatedly insulted the Constitution and violated democratic norms by engineering defections of more than 50 MLAs, MLCs, MPs and other elected representatives. "Why Asaduddin Owaisi was silent when Talasani Srinivas Yadav, who was elected on TDP ticket, was inducted in KCR's cabinet (first term) after he faked his resignation as MLA? He did not raise his voice when none of the disqualification petitions filed against MLAs and MLCs who defected to TRS were even heard? Does Owaisi justify defection of 12 MLAs, who were elected on Congress ticket, to TRS only to deprive Congress party the status of the main opposition in Assembly?" he asked.

Shabbir Ali said before levelling baseless allegations against the Congress party, Asaduddin Owaisi should do a serious introspection of his stand. He said while accusing Congress leaders of possessing huge wealth, Owaisi must also clarify whether that wealth was ill-gotten. "Before accusing others of accumulating wealth, Owaisi must clarify how his wealth multiplied manifold from Rs. 39 lakh in 2004 to Rs. 13 crores in 2019. While voters of Hyderabad remained poor and backward, Asaduddin Owaisi turned into a multi-millionaire in 15 years. Can he explain how he accumulated so much of wealth?," he asked adding that people should visit the website of Election Commission of India to check the assets disclosed by MIM president in his election affidavits.

The former minister said Congress was fighting municipal elections on the issue of failure of TRS Government in fulfilling the electoral promises and lack of development in Urban Local Bodies in Telangana. TRS, MIM and BJP have already polluted the electoral processes and they should restrain from encouraging corruption in municipal elections. People should have the freedom to pick the best candidates who are capable to solve their civic problems, he said.