By Saiyed Danish, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Politics always shares a tumultuous married relationship with development where rhetoric reigns as the home-breaking mistress. But for the people of Okhla, the melodramatic and tempestuous speeches of Asif Mohammad Khan at a gathering in his constituency acquits him of all the things he has not done for his people. He had won the by-election from Okhla seat in 2008 on RJD ticket, and now has joined Congress party for his ability to win in the area.
“Okhla constituency has around 1,20,000 Muslim vote and 90,000 votes are of Hindus out of which 14,000 votes traditionally belong to Congress irrespective of who is contesting on the party ticket. We are strongly hoping for a total of 55,000-60,000 muslim voter turnout this time and that determines the result always,” says a party insider in the gathering. As far as the infrastructure is concerned 80% colonies in Okhla are unauthorized, 5% villages and only 15% authorized colonies.
Asif Mohammad Khan
In a gathering of 300 residents mostly youths and hardly any woman participation, Asif Mohammad seemed to be smartly replacing development agenda with his blistery with Modi as his hot topic like every muslim leader this election. “Modi can never win Muslims hearts as the community is in no mood to forgive him ever,” he shouted while standing on a chair to get better of the audience attention.
While addressing local issues, he makes a head-start by answering his opponents’ claim of forgoing Batla House encounter issue after joining Congress party. “I want to answer those who are saying that Asif will stop fighting for justice for the innocent boys who were killed in the fake encounter. Let me tell you that I cannot betray my people and the cause I have so long stood for. I have joined Congress party for better reach within the government and I will use the clout of Sandeep and Sheila Dikshit to ensure that the innocent boys get justice,” he said to the gathering.
He also indirectly mentioned other major Muslim candidates such as Amanatullah Khan (LJP), Irfanullah Khan (AAP), Shoaib Danish (JDU) and Ameeruddin (SP). “Every contestant wants to defeat me and nobody has any strategy on how to win. Their agenda is to make dent in my votes and that is a negative approach in my view,” he said.
Asif Mohammad Khan also hinted at intense infighting within the party by accusing the Congress Rajya sabha member Parvez Hashmi of giving Rs. 2 crore to each rival candidate in order to ensure he loses.
“I was told that Shoaib Danish was talking to somebody on phone and saying that Parvez bhai had sent BSP candidate Brahma Singh the money but not to me,” he taunted. “Do you want to give these people your votes?” he asked the public who roared unanimously, ‘No’.
He touched the issue of development in a hurry and said that multi-crore projects are soon to be given light for Okhla. “The government has sanctioned Rs. 1.2 crore for laying sewer lines for Vamiki samaj people living in Madanpur Khadar area and he would soon inaugurate the project,” he told TCN.
Like every Muslim candidate, he also hinted that his main fight is with BJP and BSP, indicating that among the six main Muslim candidates in fray he has already been chosen the ablest.