News Analysis India

Tag: AIMIM

  • Asaduddin Owaisi suggests installing cameras at religious places to identify trouble-makers during processions

    By PTI

    HYDERABAD: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday suggested that high-resolution cameras can be installed at religious places and a live telecast can be done whenever any religious procession passes through the locality so that trouble-makers can be identified.

    “I am saying that all religious places, especially masjids and dargahs, must install high-resolution cameras and whenever a religious procession is passing through these places of worship, they should open their social media website and do a live telecast,” he told reporters here.

    People would come to know the truth when they watch live proceedings of the event whenever any religious procession is taken out, he said, adding that Muslims are routinely blamed for problems during communal incidents.

    On his delayed reaction to the recent suspected honour killing incident in Hyderabad in which a Hindu man was alleged killed by the relatives of his Muslim wife, Owaisi said the media cannot dictate him and that he would react according to his wish.

    He has earlier condemned the incident.

    On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visiting Telangana and the Congress trying to regain strength in the state, he referred to a video in which Gandhi allegedly asked for what should be the content of his speech.

    “If you don’t know what message you want to give to Telangana people and why they should support you, how you will be able to challenge TRS,” he said.

    On Gandhi reportedly challenging the ruling TRS, BJP and also AIMIM, he said the Congress leader may lose his Wayanad parliamentary seat in Kerala and that he can try his luck in Hyderabad, Secunderabad or Medak in Telangana.

  • Mosque loudspeakers: Onus on Maharashtra government, police now, says AIMIM MP on Raj Thackeray’s aggressive language

    By PTI

    AURANGABAD: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen Lok Sabha MP from Aurangabad Imitiaz Jaleel on Sunday said the Maharashtra government and the police must take full cognizance of the aggressive language and tone used by MNS chief Raj Thackeray at his rally here.

    Thackeray, who has sought the removal of loudspeakers atop mosques by May 3 and has threatened to play Hanuman Chalisa to drown out azaan, had said during his speech here that the the Muslim community would see the “power of Maharashtra” if they did not understand the request on loudspeakers “nicely”.

    Speaking to reporters, Jaleel, also the AIMIM’s Maharashtra unit chief, said he and his party could reply to Thackeray in equal measure but would desist from doing so as “we have to stay in Maharashtra and there will no end to problems then (if the community took an aggressive stand)”.

    “I won’t be responsible for what all happens after the May 3 deadline to remove loudspeakers from mosques,” Thackeray had said in his speech.

    “We will observe the stand of the Maharashtra government now. The ultimatum given (by Thackeray) is not to the Muslim community but to the Maharashtra government. Let us see how the government handles this, especially the NCP, which has the Home portfolio,” Jaleel said.

    Aurangabad police commissioner Nikhil Gupta told reporters his force was busy with security arrangements during the day and would delve into the issue after going through all relevant reports.

  • Ram Navami violence: Gujarat cops have booked innocent people, says AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday alleged that the men whom the Gujarat police have booked for allegedly attacking a Ram Navami procession in Khambhat town were innocent as they were performing namaz when the incident took place.

    Speaking on the communal clashes in Himmatnagar and Khambhat towns that took place following altercations during Ram Navami processions on March 10, Owaisi said the BJP-led state government failed to maintain law and order.

    “A Gujarat AIMIM (All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen) team had visited Khambhat town after the violence. They learnt that those who were booked by the police were busy offering namaz when the incident took place. And it was the state government’s responsibility to see that the procession passes off peacefully,” Owaisi told reporters here.

    “If you go through the past inquiry reports on such incidents, it was written that violence will take place if the state wants it and violence will never take place if the state does not. Hence, it was the state government that failed to establish law and order,” the Hyderabad MP said.

    Owaisi was in Gujarat to take stock of the state unit of the party’s preparedness for the upcoming Assembly polls to be held in December this year. “I am of the opinion that action must be taken against the guilty. But there should not be a media trial, because it is shown that stones were hurled by the people of the minority community. Show it if there is concrete evidence. Otherwise, a media trial must not happen,” he added.

    On Wednesday, police in Anand district had said that communal violence in Khambhat town on Ram Navami was a “pre-planned conspiracy” hatched by a “sleeper module” to achieve the dominance of Muslim community in the town.

    Police have already arrested 11 persons for their alleged involvement in hatching the conspiracy of the violence.

    Anand district SP Ajit Rajian had said that the perpetrators had planned to attack the procession and spread violence with the aim to teach the members of Hindu community a lesson to not take out any such procession in the future.

    A senior citizen was killed and another injured in the violence which broke out after a Ram Navami procession came under attack on Sunday. On the same day, similar clashes erupted in Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district.

  • AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi declares ex-Uttar Pradesh Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha as his front’s CM face

    By PTI

    AMROHA: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday declared former state minister Babu Singh Kushwaha as the chief ministerial candidate of his party’s pre-poll alliance “Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha”.

    The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief made the announcement while also launching a scathing attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in an election rally in Hasanpur here.

    “If the Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha forms its government in UP, Babu Singh Kushwaha will be its first chief minister,” said Owaisi, who had earlier said that if his pre-poll alliance is voted to power, he will have two chief ministers in UP.

    Owaisi, however, had not explained under what provision of the Constitution, he would have two chief ministers in a single state.

    In his Hassanpur rally, he also promised to have three deputy CMs for the state.

    “We have also decided that there will be three deputy chief ministers in UP of which one will be a Muslim and two others from the most backward section of the society,” he added.

    For the UP assembly elections, the AIMIM had forged a pre-poll alliance ‘Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha’ on January 22 along with Kushwaha’s Jan Adhikar Party and the Backward and Minority Community Employees Federation, headed by Waman Meshram.

    A minister in the Mayawati government, Kushwaha had been made convener of the Morcha.

    Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he asserted that he has the courage of speaking with Modi while looking in his eyes.

    “If the BJP is doing something wrong, I will raise my voice against it. This country was liberated by our ancestors. We got this country free with our blood. This country is mine and everyone else’s,” he asserted.

    “But today when the BJP talks about changing the secular character of this country, Owaisi will look into the eyes of Modi and speak and he will continue to do so,” he said.

    The Hyderabad MP also attacked UP Chief Minister Adityanath, calling him “Baba” and saying that he has only one solution to all problems: Defeat Mughals.

    “If anyone thinks my voice will be suppressed for speaking against the UP chief minister, remember that as long as I am alive, I will keep speaking the truth. Your power will not suppress me,” said Owaisi.

    Accusing the Adityanath government of inaction, he said, “Baba’s government was there for five years but Baba did nothing. If you talk about your problems with Baba, Baba will just say, ‘O young man, you vote for us, we have to defeat the Mughals.”

    “And the SP-BSP will say that you vote for us and defeat the BJP,” he said, adding: “They say the BJP wins only because of the Majlis entering into the electoral fray.”

    Owaisi also took digs at the chief minister’s various other purported remarks during the ongoing electioneering.

    “Yogi Adityanath says he will create cold in May-June. Chief Minister, you should become a meteorologist. You (Yogi) say that you will remove the heat (garmi nikal denge), Are you a doctor of dysentery, is Baba selling Isabgol?” he asked.

    “Listen to our message, Baba. The heat that Majlis has created in youths, will neither be reduced by your heat nor your cold. The heat we have created is on the foundation of truth, on the basis of reality to get respect and to gain our share. Even if I die, these people will go ahead with our message,” he asserted.

    “I want freedom from radical forces. I want freedom from those parties who are fielding RSS candidates and are telling me that you do slavery. I want brotherhood so we have formed the morcha,” the AIMIM chief said in his rally.

  • Attack on AIMIM chief: Shah requests Owaisi to accept Z category security

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday requested Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, to accept Z category security offered by the government after a recent attack on his car.

    Making a statement in Rajya Sabha, Shah said that a government assessment has found that Owaisi still faces security threat, but he has been informed that the Hyderabad MP has refused to take the CRPF protection.

    Shots were fired at Owaisi’s car on February 3, 2022 in Uttar Pradesh following which two persons were arrested and arms were also recovered.

    A detailed investigation is being carried out in the case and the Home Ministry had sought a report from the state government, Shah said.

    ”Through the House, I would like to request Owaisi ji to accept the security to address our concerns about his safety,” the minister said.

  • Those behind Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination opened fire at me: Owaisi 

    The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief also alleged that those behind the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi were the ones who opened fire at him.

  • MP: AIMIM leader Waris Pathan’s face blackened by man in Indore

    By PTI

    INDORE: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan’s face was blackened by a man in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore on Tuesday, an official said.

    The incident took place when Pathan, the party’s national spokesperson and former MLA from Mumbai’s Byculla, visited a dargah in Khajrana area of the city to offer prayers, it was stated.

    The role of a local identified as Saddam (32) is being probed in the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sampat Upadhyay said.

    Saddam has not been arrested as yet and the motive behind the act was being ascertained, he said.

    According to the police, Saddam had soot from a tea pot in his hands and as soon as Pathan came out of the dargah, he smeared it on the AIMIM leader’s face after garlanding him.

    Expressing anger over the incident, the AIMIM’s state unit working president Dr Naeem Ansari said that his party has complained to the Khajrana police and demanded an investigation.

    Pathan had arrived in the city during the day to participate in the party’s organisational activities, Ansari said.

  • UP polls: Owaisi announces alliance, proposes 2 CMs, 3 deputy CMs

    By Online Desk

    All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday announced his alliance in Uttar Pradesh with Babu Singh Kushwaha and Bharat Mukti Morcha.

    “If the alliance comes to power there will be 2 Chief Ministers, one from OBC community and another from Dalit community. There would be 3 Deputy Chief Ministers including from Muslim community,” he told a press conference.

    Upon being questioned whether this an alliance formed out of compulsion, Babu Singh Kushwaha said that it is not of compulsion. “We worked for Dalit, backward and minority community for a long time,” he said.

    Elections to the 403 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10.

    The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. 

  • Asaduddin Owaisi files plaint against ex-UP Shia Waqf Board chief over remark on Prophet Mohammed

    By ANI

    HYDERABAD: An FIR has been registered against former Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board chairman Wasim Rizvi in Hyderabad for using objectionable statements on Prophet Mohammed in his book titled ‘Muhammad’.

    The case was lodged against Rizvi based on a complaint filed by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimee (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi over the former’s book on Prophet Mohammed. Earlier on Wednesday, Owaisi filed a complaint in Hyderabad against Wasim Rizvi over his remark.

    Addressing media, the AIMIM chief said, “We met Hyderabad Police Commissioner. Former chairman of Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board Wasim Rizvi wrote a book that has objectionable statements on Prophet Mohammed. We requested that he be booked. Commissioner assured us of a criminal case. We hope he will be arrested.”AIMIM chief had submitted the letter to the Police Commissioner of Hyderabad Anjani Kumar.

    “This is to bring to your attention a recent book authored by one Wasim Rizvi is the former chairman of Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board. The book, written in Hindi, vilifies Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and uses objectionable language against the Prophet, the religion of Islam and its followers,” Owaisi said in a statement.

    The letter further stated that the contents of the book and the objectionable statements have been made with a view to outrage the religious sentiments of those who follow Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and abide by Islamic tenets. His statements are also targeted at creating a feeling of enmity against Muslims of India which is likely to result in a threat to the breach of peace.

    “In light of the above, I request that action is taken against Rizvi and his associates, including (but not limited to) action in pursuance of Sections 153A, 153B, 295A, 504 and 505(1)(c) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” the statement added.

  • AG declines consent for contempt proceedings against Owaisi for remarks on Savarkar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Attorney General K K Venugopal has declined to give his consent for initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi for his remarks that an inquiry commission had observed V D Savarkar was complicit in Mahatma Gandhi’s murder.

    A think tank had written to the AG seeking his consent to initiate contempt proceedings against Owaisi for his remarks.

    Venugopal said it is true that the judgment of the top court also notes the fact that Savarkar has been found not guilty of Gandhiji’s murder in the criminal trial.

    However, if one reads the judgement as a whole, it is clear that the court was disinclined to go into the findings of the Justice Kapoor Commission of Inquiry, the AG said.

    “I may also point out that Justice Kapoor has retired as a judge of the Supreme Court in the year 1962, and hence was a retired judge when he was appointed as Commission of Inquiry in 1966.

    The statement made by Owaisi is relatable, therefore, to the finding of Justice Kapoor Commission and not the Supreme Court.

    “It would therefore be difficult to hold that he has committed contempt of the Supreme Court by suggesting and/or implying that a sitting judge of the Supreme Court had held that Savarkar was complicit in the murder of Mahatma Gandhi, which is completely contrary to factual reality. I am therefore constrained to decline consent for initiation of contempt proceedings against Owaisi,” the AG in his reply dated October 26 said.

    In a letter to Owaisi, the Abhinav Bharat Congress and its founder Pankaj Phadnis had referred to a Supreme Court judgement dated March 28, 2018 which stated, “The submission of the petitioner that Shri Savarkar has been held guilty for the murder of Gandhiji is misplaced.”

    “After this categorical assertion by the highest court of the country, where is the scope to suggest that Savarkar ‘murdered’ Gandhi ji, as you are reported to have said?” the think tank had said in its October 15 letter to Owaisi.

    In a letter to the AG on October 23, the think tank had said, “This has reference to our letter of October 15, 2021 addressed to Owaisi. You will notice that the said letter was a polite request to cease and desist from suggesting and/or imputing in any manner that Savarkar was held guilty of murder of Gandhi ji.”

    “It was expected that he would issue a clarification to set the record straight. Unfortunately, the said letter has not even been acknowledged by him. As such we seek your kind consent to initiate contempt of Supreme Court proceedings against Owaisi for his remarks on the subject,” the think tank had said.

    Slamming the RSS and BJP’s appreciation of Savarkar, Owaisi had recently claimed that by installing Savarkar’s portrait in Parliament, they were sending out a message that Mahatma Gandhi is not going to remain the Father of the Nation and that Savarkar would take his place.

    “What pinches me the most as a parliamentarian is that in the Central Hall of Parliament, on one side there is a photo of Mahatma Gandhi and right opposite to it, there is a photo of Savarkar, who was mentioned by Justice Jeevan Lal Kapur Commission,” he had told mediapersons.

    Savarkar was acquitted due to lack of corroborative evidence during the trial in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, he had said.

    Asked about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s reported comments that Savarkar was not an enemy of Muslims and that he wrote ghazals in Urdu, Owaisi claimed that it is a recorded fact that Savarkar was against Urdu.

    He also demanded to know if Bhagwat would refuse the observations of the Justice Kapur Commission of Inquiry in its report that Savarkar was complicit in Mahatma Gandhi’s murder and part of the conspiracy.