Owaisi Calls PM Modi 'Tyrant', Says Banks, ATMs Not Running in Muslim Areas

Hyderabad: Hitting out at the government over demonetisation, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being a "tyrant" and alleged banks and ATMs in Muslim dominated areas in the city were not functioning.

"Every family is in distress today...I cannot withdraw my money. Who made this law," the Hyderabad MP said, addressing a public meeting on the occasion of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad 'Milad-un-Nabi'.

The Prime Minister should remember that those standing in queues now to withdraw their money would stand in queue again to vote against him (in the elections), Owaisi said.

Talking about Modi's 'fakir' remark, he asked whether a 'fakir' wears a "Rs 15 lakh suit".

"What type of a 'fakir' is he?...Would any 'fakir' give pain..You are not a 'fakir', you are a 'zalim' (tyrant)," he said.

Modi should come to the old city of Hyderabad to see the suffering of the people as they cannot withdraw their money, said the AIMIM chief about the constituency he represents in Parliament which has a large Muslim population.

"Why cashless economy? We will not do cashless economy.

Give me my money. Credit card, how many credit cards are there in India. I bet there won't be even one or two percent of credit cards with Muslims. Not with Dalits.

"Banks are not open in our Muslim localities. If the bank is open, it is declared 'red zone' and loans are not available.

If ATM is installed, money is not coming out of them in our localities," he alleged.

Claiming that the demonetisation would not have any fruitful outcome, he said experts have estimated a loss of three percent of GDP due to this decision.

The NDA government has failed to check price rise and bringing back black money, Owaisi alleged.

On December 3, the Prime Minister at his rally in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh had said he was being targeted for cracking down on those with black money.

"I am being hounded as if I have committed some crime by waging a battle against graft. But, what can my opponents do to me? I am a fakir (hermit) jhola ley kar chaley jayenge (I will exit with my little belongings)," Modi had said.