AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of taking the side of the United States and Israel in the West Asia conflict.
Amid reports of LPG shortage in the country due to disruption in trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz, Owaisi strongly criticized the central government over dependence on imports for oil and gas. Addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad, the AIMIM leader urged Prime Minister Modi to remain neutral amid the conflict.
Questioning Prime Minister Modi’s February 25-26 visit to Israel, just before the US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, ahead of the conflict in West Asia, Owaisi said, “America and the Zionists – Trump and Netanyahu want to destroy Iran like Gaza. If anyone says it will stop at the destruction of Iran, then they should know that Turkey will be next. The entire Arab country will be the next target. May Allah end this war.” Why did Modi’s friend go there? He didn’t know that this would happen, knowing that it would happen.
He further said, “Now there is a shortage of LPG. We call ourselves self-reliant India, but import 60 percent of the gas. Oil and gas come from the Strait of Hormuz. But the government here says that there is no shortage. I have been saying from the beginning that we are neither with Iran nor with the Arab countries, we are with everyone. We considered the issue of Palestinians as our issue. What did Prime Minister Modi do? He identified himself with Trump and Netanyahu. Made you stand in the camp. If you had remained neutral, perhaps your words would have had merit.”
He called on the Indian government to openly condemn the US and Israel for the attacks on Iran. He said, “Openly say that this war is wrong. If you have no sympathy for Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, then at least raise your voice for those Indian people who work in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. 50 percent of this country’s foreign currency is earned by these people. If their economy weakens, then think about them. Why don’t you sympathize with those who leave their homes to earn their living?
Attacking the BJP and the RSS over the alleged shortage of fuel and gas in the country, he said, “When school children were killed, you did not think about them. But now when there is a shortage of gas in your country, you are saying that gas should be supplied and the war should end… People of BJP-RSS make tall claims… But we have only 9.5 days of Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)… If we include the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) also, it is It is 74 days. But you will not say. After watching the film, they will not buy anything from Muslims. Then why are you buying gas?
Strongly criticizing Israel over the Gaza conflict, he said that those responsible for the bloodshed of Muslims will be brought to justice. “If someone says that the Day of Judgment will not come, the Palestinians will shout loudly and say that justice must be done. Of course, the Doomsday will definitely come. The cruel people who shed the blood of Muslims will get justice on the Day of Judgment,” the AIMIM chief said.
Meanwhile, today Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, hinting at an improvement in the LPG crisis, said, “Now there is no panic booking. Only 55 lakh LPG bookings were recorded yesterday.”
Reassuring consumers, Sharma also said that there is no shortage of supply across the country. “There is adequate stock available, there is no out of stock in any outlet,” he said. However, he admitted that concerns still remained. “The LPG issue is still a matter of concern,” he said.
Industrial diesel prices have also increased by 25 per cent, from Rs 87.67 per liter to Rs 109.59 per litre. The incident comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, where both sides have been engaged in an escalating conflict with missile attacks and military operations since February 28.