Opposition leaders have slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remark linking the work of fixing punctures to Muslim youths.
Addressing an event in Haryana’s Hisar on Monday, PM Modi said that young Muslims wouldn’t need to repair punctures for a livelihood had the Waqf properties been used “honestly”.
“If Waqf properties had been used honestly, Muslim youths wouldn’t need to earn a livelihood from repairing bicycle punctures,” Modi said during the inauguration ceremony of an airport in Hisar.
“But only a few land mafia benefited from these properties. This mafia was looting lands belonging to Dalit, backward sections and widows,” he said, adding that the amended Waqf law will address these issues.
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‘Had Sangh Used Its Ideology In Country’s Interest’
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP trained guns on PM Modi saying had Sangh (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, the BJP’s ideological parent) used its ideology and resources in the country’s interest, the PM “would not need to sell tea” in his childhood.
Owaisi further questioned what has he done for the poor Hindus and Muslims in the 11 years that his government has been in power.
“The biggest reason for what happened with Waqf properties is that Waqf laws were always weak. Modi’s Waqf amendments will weaken them further,” he wrote on X.
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‘Language Of Trolls’
Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi condemned the remark saying ‘Muslims fix punctures’ is the kind of language trolls use on social media.
“Such a remark does not behove the Prime Minister. Also, you have brought the country’s youth to this point. There are no jobs. The only option is to fix punctures or sell fritters. Muslims don’t just make punctures. I can list what Muslims have made. But this is not the time,” he said on X.
” You are saying Congress sympathisers (with Muslims). Do you hate them? If you don’t, why did you throw Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Shahnawaz Hussain, MJ Akbar and Zafar Islam in the dustbin? You are saying you want to do good for Muslims through the Waqf Bill, but you don’t have one Muslim MP to present it in the Lok Sabha. You talk about the rights of Muslim women. You don’t have a Muslim woman member in Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha or any state Assembly,” he added.
