Mumbai: January 11, Posted at 6:07 AM IST
Senior AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi on Saturday described elections as a celebration of democracy and urged citizens to recognize the true power of their vote. Addressing an election meeting at Jogeshwari East in Mumbai, he said the Constitution has given people their greatest strength in the form of voting rights.
Owaisi stated that if voters fail to use their vote correctly, it effectively gets wasted. Reflecting on India’s political history after independence, he said people have supported multiple leaders and political parties over the decades, trusting promises and election manifestos, but many communities, particularly Muslims, did not receive justice in return.
He pointed out that despite numerous challenges faced by the country, the responsibility for backwardness lies with those who sought votes but failed to deliver on development and equality. According to Owaisi, Indian Muslims placed their faith in every government and every Prime Minister, yet issues such as educational backwardness and economic weakness were never addressed seriously.
Referring to the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Owaisi recalled the formation of the Sachar Committee, Kundu Committee, and Ranganath Misra Commission. He said these reports clearly identified Muslims as one of the most backward and vulnerable communities in the country, but their recommendations were never implemented and were instead buried in files.
He further observed that the increasing use of the NOTA option reflects public disappointment with all political parties. Declining polling percentages in urban areas, he said, indicate growing disillusionment, as people believe voting does not bring real change. However, he reiterated that voting remains the most powerful democratic tool.
Highlighting the work of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Owaisi said the party believes in practical action rather than slogans. He cited the establishment of multiple educational institutions, large hospitals, financial assistance through Darussalam Cooperative Bank, and free education and vocational training programmes for thousands of students and women.
Calling upon citizens to understand the value of their vote, Owaisi concluded that when used in the right direction, the same vote can lay the foundation for education, healthcare, and a dignified life. The meeting was also addressed by Malakpet MLA Ahmed Balala and other leaders.
Akbaruddin Owaisi left Aurangabad from Mumbai, he will address public meeting in Aurangabad on Sunday and than he will leave for Dhule and Malegaon.
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