Kanpur: After AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s Kanpur public meeting, a political counterattack has now started over his statements. SP MLA from Kanpur Cantt Mohammad Hassan Rumi has replied to the questions raised by Owaisi on regional development and Muslim issues. Rumi accused the AIMIM of working for the BJP and weakening the Muslim leadership. At the same time, former SP MLA Irfan Solanki said that Owaisi is a capable and educated leader, but he is yet to fully understand the political mood of Uttar Pradesh. Owaisi addressed a 55-minute public meeting in Kanpur on Sunday. During this, he targeted the BJP, SP and Congress and talked about fielding AIMIM candidates in all 10 seats of Kanpur in the 2027 assembly elections. He also made an open offer to the opposition parties for an alliance with the AIMIM to prevent the BJP from coming back to power and said that the alliance will be waited till October 2.
Samajwadi Party MLA Hasan Rumi said it was the responsibility of the government to build hospitals and schools.
In his speech, Owaisi had questioned Cantt MLA Mohammad Hasan Rumi about the development of the area. He had alleged that Rumi had promised a 100-bed hospital, but the hospital could not be built. In response, Rumi said that it is the responsibility of the government to build hospitals and schools. He claimed that as an opposition MLA, he continued to raise the problems of the area in the Assembly and after their pressure, a 100-bed hospital was built in the south zone, though the hospital has not yet started despite the building being ready. Rumi said Owaisi needs to understand the local ground reality of Kanpur. According to him, local problems cannot be solved by raising issues related to Muslim sentiments alone.
AIMIM is given a package of BJP
Rumi also made serious allegations against the politics of AIMIM. He said that wherever there is an attempt to weaken the Muslim leadership in Uttar Pradesh, the AIMIM is given a ‘package’ of the BJP. Rumi also alleged that AIMIM does vote-cutting politics during elections, on Owaisi’s proposal for an alliance, Rumi questioned their politics, citing the example of Bihar and West Bengal. He said that the politics of AIMIM should not be seen only on the basis of speeches and Muslim sentiments, but also on the basis of what work the party has done for the people on the ground.
Rumi’s question- Has an innocent Muslim ever been acquitted by fighting a case?
Rumi also questioned Owaisi about his legal and social interventions. “Did Owaisi help the people whose houses were bulldozed in their cases? How many cases did he know about and how many cases did he fight in such cases across the country? Rumi questioned whether Owaisi had ever fought the case of a Muslim person whom he considered innocent and acquitted. He also questioned Owaisi’s role, referring to the punishment of a person who had contested the election from the AIMIM in Delhi.
Even in 2017, the crowd gathered, the vote did not change
Rumi also spoke about the crowd gathering at Owaisi’s public meetings. He said that in 2017, a large number of people had turned up at Owaisi’s rally at the GIC ground in Kanpur, but it did not have any visible impact in the electoral vote. According to Rumi, people can come to the gathering to listen to the speech, but that does not mean that every person will vote for the same party in the election. He said that the people of Cantt have supported him in the elections and he hopes to be with the people in the coming elections as well.
Irfan Solanki said- Owaisi is capable, but has not yet understood UP
Former SP MLA Irfan Solanki gave a different reaction to Owaisi’s political influence and UP politics. He said that Owaisi is a capable and educated person. He has political understanding and understanding, but he has not yet fully understood the political mood of Uttar Pradesh. Irfan said that when Owaisi came to hold a public meeting at the GIC ground in Kanpur for the first time, he himself was an MLA. Now Owaisi has come to Babupur, Mohammad Hasan Rumi is the MLA from Cantt. He said that if Owaisi takes his name, then there is nothing bad for him.
Imran Masood said – The political atmosphere in UP and Hyderabad is different.
Congress MP Imran Masood also reacted to Owaisi’s alliance proposal. He said defeating the BJP was the primary goal and it was not possible to defeat the BJP only through Muslim votes. Masood said the political atmosphere in Uttar Pradesh and Hyderabad is different. According to Masood, if the AIMIM wins a few seats, it may have the effect of dividing the opposition votes and the BJP may be in a position to benefit. He appealed to the voters to take a wise decision in the election. In recent reports on similar reactions, Masood has said that it is not possible to defeat the BJP on the basis of Muslim votes alone.
Owaisi gives time till October 2 for alliance
In the public meeting in Kanpur, Owaisi had said that AIMIM is ready for an alliance with the political parties that want to stop the formation of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for the third consecutive time. Owaisi said the party will wait till October 2 and after that it will clarify the position on the alliance. In his speech, Owaisi also raised issues like Muzaffarnagar riots, Muslim representation, education and political participation during the SP government. He also targeted the BJP as well as the SP and the Congress, saying the Muslim community should be sought answers on political participation and basic issues instead of using it only as a vote bank during elections.
This was Owaisi’s third major public meeting in Kanpur. Earlier, he has performed at Jajmau and GIC ground in 2021. Now, after his activism before the 2027 assembly elections and the announcement of fielding candidates in all 10 seats, the rhetoric about AIMIM has intensified in Kanpur politics.
