“We don’t have to learn the lesson of patriotism from the criminals of Babri Masjid demolition and Gujarat riots”
IANS/Hyderabad
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi would return from London and “surrender before law” in a case in which he is accused of making hate speeches.
“He will come and surrender before law. We are not the ones to run away,” Asad Owaisi told a public meeting on Saturday night in Ranga Reddy district.
The police have asked Akbar Owaisi, who is in London, to appear before Nirmal town police in Adilabad district today and at the Nizamabad police station tomorrow in connection with two cases booked against him for delivering alleged hate speeches last month.
Osmania University police in Hyderabad, who registered a case against Akbar on the orders of a court, have issued notice to the legislator to appear before them on January 10.
Akbar, who is the leader of the MIM in the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly, is understood to have informed the police that he would return to Hyderabad soon and make himself available for questioning.
Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy said the police would wait for the MIM leader’s return for two to three days before launching action.
MIM leaders were tight-lipped over reports that Akbar would return to Hyderabad today.
Some leaders indicated that he might seek time until next week to appear before the police.
Addressing a public meeting in Tandur town as part of United Muslim Action Committee’s campaign against the Congress government, Asad Owaisi clarified that his party was not against Hindus. “Our fight is not against the Hindus. Our fight is against the BJP and (Chief Minister) Kiran Kumar Reddy,” said Asad, a member of parliament from Hyderabad.
Asad made the clarification even as the Bharatiya Janata Party and its frontal organisations continued protests across the state, especially in the Telangana region, to condemn Akbar’s alleged remarks against the majority community.
“We don’t have to learn the lesson of patriotism from the criminals of Babri Masjid demolition and Gujarat riots. India is our country and we will continue to shed our blood for the country,” Asad said.
Targeting Kiran Kumar Reddy, the MIM chief alleged that the chief minister had a secret understanding with the BJP to weaken his party.
“Will the Congress government have booked cases against Akbar if we had not withdrawn support?” Asad asked.
He wondered why Akbar was booked 22 days after his speech in Nizamabad and 11 days after he addressed a public meeting in Nirmal. Asad said he would not comment on Akbar’s speech as the matter was before the court.
“We have full faith in the judiciary and Akbar will get justice,” he said.