Owaisi Addresses Rally in Kolhapur Despite Hindutva Opposition, Calls for Muslim Unity
Kolhapur: Asaduddin Owaisi, the head of AIMIM, addressed a public rally in Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur, on Monday night, even as Hindutva organizations protested his visit. While he canceled the planned inauguration of a new party office due to the opposition, the rally went ahead as scheduled.
In his speech, Owaisi called on Muslims to go beyond symbolic gestures of faith. “Don’t just walk on the streets with placards of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) name; bring his teachings into your lives,” he said. “Don’t put his name on the streets, but keep it in your hearts.”
He specifically addressed the youth who use the slogan “I Love Muhammad (PBUH),” urging them to align their actions with their words. “We cannot claim to love the Prophet while continuing bad habits like drug use or chewing gutkha,” Owaisi stated. “We must remove these evils from our lives and truly follow his teachings.”
A major theme of his address was the need for political unity among Muslims. “This is a time for Muslims to be alert and united,” he declared. He pointed to how major political leaders in Maharashtra, including Sharad Pawar, Eknath Shinde, and Devendra Fadnavis, came together to counter the rise of AIMIM’s leader, Imtiaz Jaleel.
He contrasted this with the recent example of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil. “Look at how leaders from all parties rushed to meet Manoj Jarange Patil during his hunger strike. That happened because his entire community stood united behind him,” Owaisi argued. He called on Muslims to show similar unity to defeat leaders like Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
Addressing the groups that opposed his rally, Owaisi was defiant. “You are still children. I am someone who has gone to Pakistan and spoken against Pakistanis. I have fought your fathers. How can you stop me?” he challenged. He also accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of being an “enemy of Muslims.”
