New Delhi: In a move that is set to ignite major political row, Congress party has given an assembly ticket to Maskoor Ahmad Usmani, who has been dubbed by Opposition as ‘Jinnah worshipper’.
The ‘ticket reward’for Dr Maskoor Ahmad Usmani has set tongues wagging ahead of the assembly elections as the Jale assembly seat was widely perceived to be going to Rishi Mishra, grandson of former Railways Minister Lalit Narayan Mishra.
Rishi Mishra had recently switched over from JD(U) to Congress party. Denial of ticket drew sharp reactions from him as he called Usmani an anti-national and follower of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said that he was ‘hurt’ because Congress party gave ticket to a Jinnah worshipper, who has a photo of Jinnah in his office.
Dr Maskoor Ahmad Usmani, set to contest from Jale assembly seat, is a former President of Aligarh Muslim University Student’s Union and also has a sedition case registered against him.
In 2019, Usmani was booked under sedition charges for allegedly raising anti-national slogans. In 2020, Twitter suspended his official account for criticising the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on the arrest of Safoora Zargar and Meeran Haider.
Expressing his angst over denial of ticket, Rishi Mishra told media, “I do not have any regret that I did not get the ticket they could have given to someone else but I was hurt that they had given a ticket to Jinnah worshipper, who has a photo of Jinnah in his office. He also has a sedition case and he is out on bail.”
It’s a cruel joke. I left JD(U) to contest from Jale. I would’ve been okay if someone else got ticket but they gave it to a Jinnah follower who has sedition case against him. He (Congress candidate Maskoor Usmani) puts Jinnah’s photo in his office: Rishi Mishra, Congress #Bihar https://t.co/Tcc3kqW9zN pic.twitter.com/9juWLcTiEi
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2020
Mishra also launched a scathing attack on Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha.
“Madan Mohan Jha said that Sonia Gandhi decided the names. Congress is Gandhi’s ideology party, do not make it Jinnah ideology. We can not have Jinnah’s photo in Gandhi’s country. This will give the wrong impression to people about the party. Jha and Sonia ji should explain why the ticket was given to him. He should give resignation,” he said.
BJP’s Giriraj Singh tears into Cong candidate
BJP has too latched onto the brewing controversy and demanded answers from Mahagathbandhan over its endorsement of candidates who support Jinnah.
Giriraj Singh also asked Cong-RJD alliance, “if Sharjeel Imam will be their star campaigner in Bihar polls?”
Congress & Mahagathbandhan leaders have to answer the country if the Jale candidate supports Jinnah. Congress & Mahagathabndhan have to tell if they also support Jinnah? Will Sharjeel Imam be their star campaigner?: Giriraj Singh, BJP on Congress candidate Maskoor Usmani#Bihar pic.twitter.com/NrzHNKv8hY
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2020
“Congress & Mahagathbandhan leaders have to answer the country if the Jale candidate supports Jinnah. Congress & Mahagathabndhan have to tell if they also support Jinnah? Will Sharjeel Imam be their star campaigner?,” Giriraj Singh said.
