NEW DELHI—Asaduddin Owaisi, one of India’s rising political stars, is fondly addressed as a “lion” by his young, mobile-savvy Indian Muslim fans.
On a sunny December morning in 2019, some of his campaign managers warmed up the crowd at a rally in the east Indian state of Jharkhand. “Muslims of India,” one thundered, “your time to be misled is over.” As a chopper neared the ground and tossed up a swirl of earth, the speaker continued. “Our true leader is here,” he said, and the crowd broke into a rhythmic chant: “Look, look, who has arrived! The lion has arrived!”
