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AIMIM spokesperson Asim Waqar defects to Congress, accuses Owaisi-led party of helping BJP
AIMIM national spokesperson Syed Asim Waqar joined the Congress in Delhi on Wednesday, sharply criticising his former party for allegedly fighting opposition parties rather than the BJP. The move is seen as a setback to Asaduddin Owaisi's efforts to expand in Uttar Pradesh, where elections are due early next year.
By Tertius News AI Desk4 distinct · 4 mastheads · 4 articlesVersion 5Coverage Published
distinct = voices after wire copies and reprints of the same article collapse; mastheads = publisher names; articles = URLs
AIMIM national spokesperson Syed Asim Waqar joined the Congress on Wednesday, launching a stinging attack on his former party's electoral strategy while claiming that its conduct on the ground effectively bolsters the BJP. Waqar joined the party in the presence of AICC in-charge for Uttar Pradesh Rajendra Pal Gautam, UP Congress chief Ajay Rai, and AICC Minority Department chairman Imran Pratapgarhi at the party headquarters at 24 Akbar Road in Delhi, an event reported by news agency PTI.
Waqar, who was close to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, said his decision was driven by the conviction that the AIMIM, despite its rhetoric, was 'paying lip service' to the goal of removing the BJP. "But I felt being in the AIMIM for so many years that we pay lip service by stating that the BJP must be removed but on the ground we don't fight the BJP, we fight the Congress, the SP, we are fighting every other person who wants to remove the BJP," he was quoted as saying.
Waqar elaborated on this theme, arguing that the party's actions were counter-productive for those opposing the BJP. "I felt that if we keep fighting the Opposition and don't allow it to expand, then we are helping the BJP. I have decided that if we are true nationalists and want to remove the BJP honestly, then our objective should be to fight the BJP. If we are fighting the enemies of the BJP, then we are friends of the BJP," he said. He asserted that "if someone is fighting the BJP across the country, it is the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and his people."
Waqar also accused the BJP of being 'anti-national' and said that all those who love the country have only one objective: to dislodge the party and form a secular government. He further targeted the TMC's Humayun Kabir, alleging that a sting operation revealed Kabir received Rs 1,100 crore from the BJP. Waqar demanded that once a Congress government is formed at the Centre, an investigation should be conducted into the source of those funds.
Gautam, meanwhile, welcomed Waqar into the party and spoke of a movement under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi focused on issues concerning education, employment, students, women, and marginalised sections. "Rahul Gandhi is firmly raising the voice of every section and continuously cautioning the government on every front. Inspired by this, senior leaders from various parties are joining the Congress and strengthening the hands of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi," Gautam said at a press conference after the induction.
Political Context
Waqar's departure comes at a time when the AIMIM aims to strengthen its presence in Uttar Pradesh, targeting seats in districts with significant Muslim populations. Political observers view the move as potentially affecting Owaisi's efforts to expand the party's electoral footprint in the state.
Uttar Pradesh is scheduled to hold assembly elections early next year. The Congress, which is in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, is reportedly eyeing a comeback in the state. In the 2022 polls, the Congress managed just two seats out of the 399 it contested, while the AIMIM failed to win a single seat.
How each outlet told it
A framing line is our reading of that outlet's own text — an interpretation, not a quotation and not a fact we assert. Check it against what the outlet published.
Framing: Emphasizes the defection of AIMIM's Syed Asim Waqar to Congress and his claim that the Owaisi-led party fights against those who want to remove the BJP. — Dramatic and defection-focused, with a note of conflict.
Facts Included:
AIMIM spokesperson Syed Asim Waqar joined the Congress on Wednesday.
Waqar accused the Owaisi-led party of fighting the parties on-ground who seek to dislodge the BJP.
Waqar joined the Congress in the presence of AICC in-charge for Uttar Pradesh Rajendra Pal Gautam, UP Congress chief Ajay Rai and AICC Minority Department chairman Imran Pratapgarhi at the AICC Office at 24 Akbar Road in Delhi.
The news agency PTI reported the event.
Gautam praised Rahul Gandhi's leadership, saying a movement is underway on issues concerning education, employment, students, women, and marginalised sections.
Gautam said senior leaders from various parties are joining the Congress Party and strengthening the hands of Shri Mallikarjun Kharge and Shri Rahul Gandhi.
Waqar termed the BJP as 'anti-national' and said all those who love the country have only one objective to dislodge the party and form a secular government.
Waqar said that the AIMIM was doing a lip service by saying the BJP must be removed, while its actions on ground suggest they are fighting any party that is against the BJP.
Waqar was quoted as saying: 'But I felt being in the AIMIM for so many years that we pay lip service by stating that the BJP must be removed but on the ground we don't fight the BJP, we fight the Congress, the SP, we are fighting every other person who wants to remove the BJP.'
Waqar added: 'If we are fighting the enemies of the BJP then we are friends of the BJP.'
Framing: The headline emphasizes a political blow to Owaisi, highlighting that a key aide joined Congress and accused AIMIM of helping the BJP. — The tone is neutral and factual, reporting statements without overt emotional language.
Facts Included:
Syed Asim Waqar, a key aide of AIMIM chief Owaisi, joined the Congress.
Waqar said, "On the ground, we don't fight the BJP; we fight the Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP); we are fighting every other person who wants to remove the BJP."
Waqar stated, "I felt that if we keep fighting the Opposition and don't allow it to expand, then we are helping the BJP."
Waqar said, "If we are fighting the enemies of the BJP, then we are friends of the BJP."
Waqar said, "In reality, if someone is fighting the BJP across the country, it is the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and his people."
The article notes that Waqar's departure comes as AIMIM aims to strengthen its presence in Uttar Pradesh, targeting seats in districts with significant Muslim populations.
Gautam, a Congress figure, said that under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, a movement is underway on issues concerning education, employment, students, women, and marginalised sections.
Gautam said, "Rahul Gandhi is firmly raising the voice of every section and continuously cautioning the government on every front."
Gautam said, "Inspired by this, senior leaders from various parties are joining the Congress and strengthening the hands of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi."
Framing: Emphasizes the timing of the switch, noting it is ahead of UP polls, and Syed Asim Waqar's move to Congress with a swipe at AIMIM/Owaisi.
Facts Included:
Syed Asim Waqar, AIMIM national spokesperson, joined the Congress on Wednesday
Waqar joined in presence of AICC in-charge for Uttar Pradesh Rajendra Pal Gautam, UP Congress chief Ajay Rai and AICC Minority Department chairman Imran Pratapgarhi at party headquarters at 24 Akbar Road
Gautam welcomed Waqar and spoke of Congress-led movement under Rahul Gandhi on education, employment, students, women, marginalised sections
Waqar accused AIMIM of paying lip service to removing BJP while fighting other opposition parties
Waqar said approach of fighting opposition benefits BJP
Waqar said Congress is fighting BJP across the country
Waqar was prominent in AIMIM UP and considered close to Owaisi
Political observers view move as affecting Owaisi's expansion in UP
UP elections scheduled early next year
BJP expected to face challenge from SP and Congress
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimSyed Asim Waqar, AIMIM national spokesperson, joined the Congress party on Wednesday.
ClaimWaqar joined the Congress in the presence of AICC in-charge for Uttar Pradesh Rajendra Pal Gautam, UP Congress chief Ajay Rai and AICC Minority Department chairman Imran Pratapgarhi at the party headquarters at 24 Akbar Road.
ClaimWaqar said that on the ground AIMIM does not fight the BJP but fights the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and every other person who wants to remove the BJP.
ClaimWaqar's departure comes at a time when the AIMIM aims to strengthen its presence in Uttar Pradesh, targeting to win several seats in districts with significant Muslim populations.
ClaimGautam said that under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, a movement is underway across the country on issues concerning education, employment, students, women, and marginalised sections.
ClaimWaqar said that Congress was the only party fighting the BJP directly on the ground and those committed to secular government should join Congress.
ClaimAjay Rai expressed confidence about the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, saying the party’s flag would fly in every village and street across the state.
ClaimImran Pratapgarhi said that Congress was being strengthened with new members joining Rahul Gandhi’s 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' campaign and claimed that several more prominent faces would join the party in the coming days.
ClaimWaqar said all those who love the country have only one objective which is to dislodge the BJP and form a secular government that works for the people's interest.
ClaimWaqar's move is seen by political observers as a development that could affect Owaisi's efforts to expand AIMIM's electoral footprint in Uttar Pradesh.
4 distinct · 4 mastheads · 4 articles consulted: The Economic Times, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, The Times of India30 claims extractedVersion 5Written 2026-09-02