Tahir cries foul over ‘betrayal’
Tahir Hussain, accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, made a political comeback on Wednesday after a hiatus of nearly five years. He was granted a six-day custody parole by the Supreme Court to campaign for the February 5 Assembly elections.
Expressing himself through a couplet by famous Urdu poet Firaq Gorakhpuri, Hussain lamented his political isolation: “Humein toh apno ne loota, gairon mein kahan dum tha, humari kashti wahan doobi paani jahan kam tha,” (Our own people looted us, where did strangers have the courage? Our boat sank, where water was shallow.)
Hussain, who has been nominated by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) to contest from the Mustafabad Assembly segment, is not the only one from the 2020 riots case involved in the elections.
Another accused, Shifa ur Rehman, has been given a ticket from the Okhla seat.
In an interview with The Tribune, Hussain recalled his previous political affiliations and expressed discontent with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the party he helped establish in the Mustafabad constituency. “The party (AAP) for which I gave everything and established it in this constituency left me when I had nowhere to go,” Hussain said. A former AAP councillor from Nehru Vihar in Mustafabad, Hussain added, “Six months ago, I announced I would contest the elections, and today I am fortunate that (Asaduddin) Owaisi sahab and the party recognised me and nominated me.”
Hussain began his campaigning with door-to-door visits on the first day of his parole. Speaking to supporters at Sanjay Chowk in Mustafabad, he said, “Although I have spent five years in jail, I have never kept your feelings and your love away from my heart. This is what has brought me today before you.” Despite the heavy presence of Delhi Police officials due to his parole conditions, Hussain was warmly greeted by his supporters, who showered him with flowers.
Addressing accusations that the AIMIM is seen as an ally of the BJP for allegedly splitting votes, Hussain countered, “When Tahir Hussain was in the AAP, he was a secular person, even when the AAP won the first elections it was called part of the BJP. So, every party that claims to be secular doesn’t want to address the issues faced by Muslims. When any new leader comes, they are tagged.”
Reflecting on his personal journey, Hussain added, “What happened to me was fate. What was written in my fate has happened to me. I don’t hold anyone responsible for this. Life and death are in Allah’s hands, our job is to work hard.”
During his campaign, he also criticised AAP for changing its candidate in the constituency, claiming, “They knew that no work has been done in the last five years. People voted for them expecting work, but it didn’t happen.” He emphasised his local roots, saying, “I’m a local, I have served the public here. For a brief time, I moved to Noida, but after four years I realised I couldn’t stay away from my people, so I came back.”
Hussain also expressed his faith in the judicial system.
