The Congress Government in Karnataka seems to be determined to scuttle every attempt of Hyderabad-based Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) to expand its base. After banning the entry of MIM president and MP Asaduddin Owaisi in to Bengaluru, the State Government has now stopped him from attending a meeting of Dalits at Humnabad in Gulbarga district.
The public meeting was organised by Dalit Sangharsh Samiti on Sunday coinciding with the occasion of 188th birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. Rajkumar Mul Bharati, State convener of the Samiti condemning the orders of the administration announced that he will challenge it in the court. “We had made preparations for the public meeting after securing permission from the revenue authorities. But in an unconstitutional act the authorities informed at the last minute that Owaisi cannot attend the programme,” he said.
“There is no reason or rationale behind this decision. Earlier, Owaisi addressed public meetings in Bhatkal and Alkul in Karnataka but there was no breach of peace”, Bharati said. Bharati said that his organisation will hold the meeting only after securing permission from the court. Criticising the State Government, he said that the action against the MIM leaders was politically motivated. Invitation to Asaduddin Owaisi to address a Dalit meeting assumes significance as MIM was pursing the strategy of bringing minorities and Dalits on a united platform to increase its political strength in Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
After MIM surprised its political rivals by winning two Assembly seats in the recent Maharashtra polls, the ruling Congress has become vary in Karnataka.