Hyderabad (PTI): AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday thanked the people of Bihar for ensuring the success of party's candidates in five assembly constituencies and urged non-NDA parties to introspect.
Owaisi, who extensively campaigned in Bihar in support of his party candidates, also said non-NDA parties should try to address their shortcomings instead of assuming voters would automatically favour them.
AIMIM accepts people's verdict in Bihar, he said, also congratulating Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his victory in the assembly polls.
Addressing reporters here, he said, "I am grateful to the people of Bihar. Especially, I have been saying from the beginning that RJD would not be able to stop BJP. You can check my speeches. I had said that. Today also, I am appealing to those people in Bihar who have misconception about the 'MY' (Muslim and Yadav) combination,"
He said that he had voiced concern (before the polls) that NDA was gaining ground in the Bihar, and regretted that his apprehension has now proven right.
In an apparent reference to minority voters in Bihar, he urged them to become "vote takers" rather than just "vote givers", saying it would help promote leadership among them and also check "communal and fascist forces".
He added that non-BJP parties like RJD need to examine why they were not able to prevent the BJP's growth. "Those who feel relieved by abusing him are welcome to do so."
Referring to Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav's reported comments blaming the rout of 'Mahagathbandhan" in Bihar on SIR, he said the non-NDA parties should focus on addressing their own weaknesses.
"If you feel that we are big and people would vote for us, it is not going to happen. First of all you have to be humble. If you think that you are a 'Raja' and voters are your people, that era has come to an end," he said.
If the INDIA alliance is not winning in Bihar, it won't say that a particular caste did not vote for it. "But, you feel that Muslim is your captive. How long you will speak like this? My appeal to Muslim society is that don't become a voter but a citizen who will have rights," he said.
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Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
