YASIR
ALVI
The
immovable object in opposition politics, AIMIM president and a four-time MP
from Hyderabad constituency, Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi is an astute and
discerning politician, a firebrand leader who punches well above his weight.
Being a student of law, Owaisi knows his job as a member of the law making body
at its finest. Also a popular servant, one who has all the idea of the needs of
his constituency and is working the hardest to give them a life at ease by
doing all the jobs which a ‘good politician’ must do.
Let’s
have a quick look at his record, since June 2019. As the representative of the
people of Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi’s attendance in parliament is a
remarkable 83%, that’s much higher than the state average of 77% however,
slightly lower than the national average of 84%, but good nonetheless. He is
also one of the very few parliamentarians who spent more than 80% of their MP
LAD (Local Area Development) Funds and as a result has set examples in the
fields of sanitation, drinking water, disaster relief, affordable education and
health care facilities. As a parliamentarian Owaisi took part in 28 debates
against the weak national and state average of 16 and 10 respectively. The
barrister in law is known for asking questions, his track record is astounding,
he has raised 132 questions in the house, the national and state average again
pretty frail at just 49 and 46 respectively. Clearly, he’s one of the most
active members in the house of the people.
In a
parallel universe, Asaduddin Owaisi would make a pretty good journalist,
especially at a time of limping independent journalism in India. He has raised
questions on everything from negative growth of the economy to weakening of
democratic institutions to foreign policy to religious freedom to citizenship
to handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. You name it, he’s talked about it.
Calling
him a media-savvy wouldn’t be an irresponsible statement as he continues to be
a magnet of controversy, most of which he’s come out clean and factually sound.
His speeches almost always make news. For instance, the Haj subsidy which the
NDA government abolished, Owaisi said it’s fine as long as the subsidy for the
Mansarovar Yatra is also abolished.
Speaking
on the legality of the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Act, 2019
(instant Triple Talaq), the barrister called the criminalization of a civil
offence, antithesis to the precedence set by the apex court while ruling on
Section 377 and 497 of the IPC. He also brought to the notice of the house how
much opposition there was to this vague piece of legislation.
Often
in parliament he’s seen criticizing the lack of freedom of religion
particularly for the minorities under the current right wing government. He
also slammed the government for what he called “beef hypocrisy” while he spoke
on the issue of “targeted mob lynching of Muslims and Dalits” on the suspicion
of slaughtering cows.
He’s
even called the upper caste reservation unconstitutional citing the 1992 Indra
Sawhney vs. Union of India judgement of the Supreme Court wherein the court
said that economic backwardness cannot be the sole criteria for reservation.
Having
been a victim himself, he vehemently opposed the tyrannical UAPA Amendment,
2019 which gave the government the power to designate an ‘individual’ as a
‘terrorist’ and to therefore arrest and seize the property of the individual
without a proper judicial conviction. Owaisi left no stone unturned when he
very rightly slammed the Congress for bringing such legislation at the first
hand.
All
these controversies, yet his most talked about speeches are the ones he made
against the combination of the CAA-NRC calling it discriminatory, dangerous and
a tool to make the Muslims stateless. Hence, while speaking on the CAA in
parliament, he tore the bill apart calling it a plot to divide India on
communal lines. Later, he organized various peaceful protest gatherings against
the new citizenship policies of the government including the dicey practice of
NPR.
Owaisi
again made headlines for all the right reasons when he spoke explicitly on the
2020 Delhi pogrom of Muslims where he slammed the ruling government for being
incompetent in dealing with the situation at hand and therefore, failing to
discharge it’s constitutional duty. He even lashed out on the Delhi police for
aiding the rioters which was allegedly seen in various videos which did the
rounds on the internet.
To
cut a long story short, Asaduddin Owaisi made all the right noises of a
mentally and factually sound opposition leader. No wonder, he has being getting
more than half the votes cast in his constituency and an ever growing fan base
around the country. As of today, it will take a political miracle to unseat a
leader so strong.
Editor’s Note: Today is Asaduddin Owaisi’s birthday and here is
a little something about him.
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