Malegaon: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday expressed surprise over the police ban on his scheduled rallies in Malegaon and neighbouring Dhule and blamed the Cong-NCP alliance government for what he termed as "forced" suppression of his democratic rights.
"I don't blame the police for the ban. It's the Congress and NCP ruled state government which is using the police to suppress my democratic right", Asaduddin Owaisi said while talking to ummid.com on phone.
Asaduddin Owaisi, who is also a member of parliament from Hyderabad, was reacting to the decision by the Maharashtra police to ban his entry into Nashik and Dhule districts. Owaisi was forced to call off rallies in Malegaon and Dhule scheduled for June 14 and 15 due to the ban.
The police cited a threat to law and order situation, and pending cases against Akbaruddin Owaisi, Asaduddin Owaisi's younger brother and an MLA in Andhra Pradesh assembly, as the reasons for the decision to deny him permission to address the rallies in Malegaon and Dhule.
Stating that he would be challenging the decision in court after consultation, Owaisi, who is also a lawyer said, "Cases are pending against Akbaruddin, not against me. Why am I banned from addressing public meetings?"
He said by imposing the ban on his public meetings, the government is trying to avoid a debate. "If you are really confident of your performance, then why are you afraid? Let people come and listen to the flip side also", he said.
Owaisi also blamed the government of double standard and said, "Cases relating to hate speech are pending also against Praveen Togadia but he is roaming freely in the entire country."
He also took a pot shot at the state government, saying that it should look for other 'advisors'.
"I don't know who the government's advisors are. But, they are not properly guiding the government. It's totally a wrong strategy. The more you impose a ban on my rallies, the more people will become curious about what I am saying", he said.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which already has a strong base in Hydeabad, is trying to make inroads in Maharashtra ever since its surprise victory in Nanded Municipal Corporation elections. However, the series of rallies in Maharashtra planned by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi was called off after the ban by the police, with the first being the one scheduled in January in Aurangabad.
The government however lifted the ban on Owaisi's Aurangabad visit and paved the way for a huge rally which Owaisi addressed in the city on May 18, 2013.
The Malegaon and Dhule rallies were announced after the huge response Owaisi received in his Aurangabad rally.
[File Photo: Asaduddin Owais showing the notice served on him by Aurangabad police]
Comments
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.
Coporates to partner with govt for training, skill development of minoritiesUnion Minister of Minority Affairs K. Rahman Khan on Tuesday suggested to set up a Committee of the three Business Chambers and Ministry of Labour and Employment to give impetus to the efforts to promote Skill Development and Employment Opportunities »
Mahim building collapse death toll rises to tenThe death toll from an apartment block collapse in central Mumbai's Mahim area has risen to ten, eyewitnesses said Tuesday, with rescuers still searching for people who may be trapped under the rubble. »
Against this backdrop, the protest staged in different parts of the state and outside, and the concerns expressed by a large number of people from all across the country and abroad were something which should have been taken note of by the state government immediately »
Speaking at a reception to celebrate the completion of two years of 'India Is' and the Global Photography Challenge and Video contests held under its auspices, Khurshid said the photographs and videos contributed by »