Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Nov 8: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday launched a sharp attack on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, dismissing his political ambitions in the state and saying his wish to see a Muslim Chief Minister in Uttar Pradesh and a burqa-clad woman as Prime Minister would never be fulfilled.

Speaking at the AajTak Panchayat event hosted by Senior Managing Editor Sweta Singh, Yogi alleged that Owaisi's political agenda was against India, Hindus and the country's constitutional values. He claimed that such an agenda sought to weaken national unity and asserted that there was no place in Uttar Pradesh for people who had no constructive agenda for the state.

"Owaisi will bring an agenda that is anti-India, anti-Hindu and against the country's constitutional values. Such an agenda seeks to weaken India's unity. That is why people like Owaisi have no place in Uttar Pradesh," the Chief Minister said.

Responding to Owaisi's remarks about the possibility of a Muslim Chief Minister in Uttar Pradesh and a burqa-clad woman becoming Prime Minister, Yogi said such aspirations would never materialise. "Owaisi's wish will never be fulfilled. That is why he will never come to power," he said.

The Chief Minister also targeted the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, alleging that their political approaches were similar to that of Owaisi's AIMIM. He accused the three parties of being unconcerned about India's interests and playing with the country's faith and identity, and suggested that they should come together.

Yogi's remarks came days after Owaisi referred to the victory of Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race in the United States to argue for an independent Muslim political identity in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing reporters on Wednesday, the AIMIM chief said the "Abdul" of Uttar Pradesh would no longer bow before anyone but would emerge as an MLA. Referring to El-Sayed's victory, Owaisi said the result demonstrated that a person could succeed politically irrespective of religious identity.

Owaisi also urged Muslims to stop merely supporting other political parties and instead strengthen their own political identity. His remarks drew reactions from the Congress and the Samajwadi Party.

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said the victory of Indians abroad, irrespective of their names or religious identities, should be a matter of pride. Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma also welcomed El-Sayed's victory, noting that he was of Egyptian origin and had contested as a Democratic Party candidate.