Asaduddin Owaisi (File)

HYDERABAD: Asaduddin Owaisi , chief of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), on Monday vehemently contested the concerns expressed by a few parties over Muslim voter turnout during Ramzan and said such comments were an insult to the community.

“Ramzan increases spiritualism in Muslims and, if anything, elections during this month will only lead to more voting percentage. Wherever elections are being held during Ramzan, Muslims vote in higher percentage,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, TMC’s Firhad Hakim had said the lengthy poll schedule will be arduous for Muslims.

Owaisi was visibly livid at this. “It is an insult to Muslims to say that Ramzan will affect our voting. One must understand that Ramzan will start in India around May 5, depending on Moon sighting. In the country, the election process must be completed by June 3. So, elections must be there during Ramzan. It is not possible to conclude elections by May 5,” Owaisi said.

He also noted that Muslims who fast during the holy month never stop performing their regular work. “When Muslims fast they also go to offices and do their business. There are labourers and rickshawpullers who fast — their normal activity is not affected,” he told reporters.

BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad also castigated Hakim for his remarks. “Elections during festivals are common. It seems politicians have more problem than those who observe Ramzan,” he said.

