Owaisi termed as "completely illegal" the Basavaraj Bommai government's recent decision to scrap four per cent reservation for Muslims within the OBC category, and expressed indignation: "Why weren't there protests? Why weren't strong statements emanated from so-called secular leaders and parties?" On oft-repeated criticism by some parties that AIMIM fielding candidates lead to "division" of the Muslim vote, he wondered why such a question is not being posed to leaders of other communities such as Lingayats, Vokkaligas and Kurubas.