Owaisi counters AAP and TMC’s ‘Muslim concerns’, says controversy over LS election during Ramzan ‘unnecessary’

As the Election Commission announced dates of the 2019 general elections, political parties such as Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress along with some Muslim clerics had raised objections regarding the timing of the elections which coincides with the month of Ramzan.

However, on Monday, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi countered the concerns of political parties and Muslim cleric and added that the controversy over general elections during Ramzan was ‘unnecessary and uncalled for’.

Slamming those people who are using elections to further divisive politics, Owaisi said the people criticising the Election Commission do not understand the process of the elections. Owaisi further added that the voter turnout will be much higher contrary to the claims of Aam Aadmi Party and TMC leaders who had asserted that Muslims voters will not turn up to voting as they observe ‘Roza’ during the month of Ramzan.

“This whole controversy is totally uncalled for and unnecessary. I would earnestly request those political parties that please don’t use the Muslim community and Ramzan for whatever reasons you have. Muslims will definitely fast in Ramzan, they go out and lead a normal life, they go to the office, even the poorest of the poor will also fast. If they are so worried about Muslims during Ramzan, what do they do for Muslims for the rest of the year?”, questioned All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

As the month of Ramzan will begin from May 6, three phases of voting will take place during the Ramazan when Muslims observe fast from dawn to sunset.

The crucial Lok Sabha elections are set to begin from April 11 and extend for over a month till May 19 across seven phases. The counting of votes will be conducted on May 23, the Election Commission announced on Sunday.

The polling will be held on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19 for 543 Lok Sabha seats across the country in which nearly 90 crore voters would be eligible to vote, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said at a press conference in Delhi.