AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday drew comparisons between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the party’s Okhla candidate, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, asserting that if Kejriwal could secure bail and contest elections, so could Rehman, even from jail. Rehman, currently incarcerated for alleged involvement in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, has been fielded by AIMIM as its candidate for the Okhla Assembly constituency.

Speaking at a campaign rally, Owaisi declared, “If Arvind Kejriwal can get bail in this country and contest elections six months later, we will ensure Shifa wins from inside the jail.”

Drawing historical parallels, Owaisi referenced the late George Fernandes, who won elections while imprisoned during the infamous Baroda Dynamite case. “Was there not a Baroda Dynamite case against George Fernandes? He contested and won from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur jail. Similarly, Shifa will win the Okhla elections while being in jail and will become an MLA,” Owaisi asserted.

Criticism of Political Double Standards

Owaisi criticized the judicial and political system, questioning why some leaders receive bail while others remain behind bars. “Why is Shifa in jail and not Kejriwal? Why did Kejriwal, Sisodia, and Amanatullah get bail, but not Shifa and Tahir?” he asked. Owaisi accused the system of targeting individuals like Shifa-Ur-Rehman and Tahir Hussain, who have been in jail for five years under what he claims are false charges.

Addressing criticisms of AIMIM’s decision to field Shifa and Tahir as candidates, Owaisi attacked the hypocrisy of other political parties. He pointed out that Parliament itself includes MPs with serious criminal charges. “Out of the 250 MPs with criminal cases, 94 are from BJP, 32 from Congress, 17 from Samajwadi Party, and 4 from Shiv Sena. These individuals with cases of rape, murder, attempt to murder, and kidnapping are sitting in Parliament. Yet, those who have done nothing are languishing in jail,” Owaisi said, calling the criticism of his candidates misplaced and hypocritical.

AIMIM’s Candidates and Election Dates

AIMIM has announced Shifa-Ur-Rehman as its candidate for Okhla and Tahir Hussain for Mustafabad in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, both of whom are accused in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case.

The Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in a single phase on February 5, with the counting of votes set for February 8.