Ramzan fasting will not impact poll percentage: Asaduddin Owaisi
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi Monday said coinciding of Lok Sabha polls with Ramzan would not hamper poll percentage, rubbishing claims made by some leaders to the effect.
![AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi](https://static.dynamitenews.com/images/2019/03/11/ramzan-fasting-will-not-impact-poll-percentage-asaduddin-owaisi/5c865902bb8f2.jpeg)
Hyderabad: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi Monday said coinciding of Lok Sabha polls with Ramzan would not hamper poll percentage, rubbishing claims made by some leaders to the effect.
The general election will be held from April 11 to May 19 and the results will be declared on May 23 while Ramzan is expected to commence either on May 5 or 6, depending on sighting of the moon and lasts about 29 days.
Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM on voting during Ramzan: This whole controversy is totally uncalled for & unnecessary. I would earnestly request those political parties that please don't use the Muslim community & Ramzan for whatever reasons you have. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/rytggFSaFF
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2019
Leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have claimed that elections during the Muslim holy month will inconvenience the community, largely seen to be backing the opposition parties, and help the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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"They say poll percentage will come down because they are fasting. That is all rubbish. Nothing of that sort will happen. I am confident that the spirituality of Muslims will increase during Ramzan. On the contrary, poll per cent will go up," Owaisi told reporters.
"Elections are constitutional obligation and they must go on. Why Muslims will not work during Ramzan? Fasting is obligatory on Muslims. We cook, work, clean and take care of our families while fasting," he tweeted.
Fasting is obligatory on Muslims. We cook, work, clean & take care of our families while fasting. It’s an insult to Muslims to say that Ramzan will affect our voting.
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) March 11, 2019
In Ramzan, Shaitan is enchained - inshallah one will use their vote to defeat his agents pic.twitter.com/HxfmhHvzML
"Its an insult to Muslims to say Ramzan will affect our voting. In Ramzan, Shaitan is enchained - inshallah one will use their vote to defeat his agents," the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) said.
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Reacting to the controversy, the Election Commission (EC) had earlier said polls are conducted during Ramzan as an entire month cannot be excluded from the schedule.
However, dates of main festivals and Fridays are avoided as poll days, it added. (PTI)