Asaduddin Owaisi blames MP govt, Home minister, asks not to interfere in state affairs

BHOPAL: The ruling BJP and opposition parties were engaged in a war of words after AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi termed the incident of alleged thrashing of an Indore bangle seller a result of "narrow-minded" and "inferior pro-Hindutva thinking". Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra said that Owaisi should not interfere in the issues of the BJP ruled state. MP medical education minister Vishwas Sarang also retaliated saying Owaisi plays divisive politics and involved in the appeasement of Muslims.

"Please do not interfere. There is rule of law in Madhya Pradesh. No one will be allowed to raise their heads here, nor will they be allowed to spread enmity,” reacted Mishra on Tuesday when asked about Owaisi's allegations of shielding those who beat up the bangle seller.

The home minister further said, “I want to tell Owaisi that those who carry two-three different identity cards are criminals. Those who hide their names are criminals. Police have registered a case against those who have beaten up the man and arrested them.”

A 25-year-old bangle seller, identified as Tasleem Ali, was allegedly beaten up by a mob in Indore on Sunday after revealing his name. Four persons were arrested over the assault, while a case was also registered against Ali under the POCSO Act for allegedly touching a 13-year-old girl inappropriately and was detained. The home minister had stated that Ali had tried to hide his identity which led to the row, and two Aadhaar cards were seized from his possession.

Reacting to the incident, All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Owaisi had accused the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh government of not taking action against those involved in the assault. ''The Home Minister of MP is also openly making excuses to save criminals. There is no difference between elected governments and extremist mobs,” he had tweeted.

Congress MLA from Bhopal Central (Madhya) Arif Masood also joined the verbal spat saying the statement by the home minister in the matter is unfortunate. "The Shivraj government is pressuring the police not to take action in the case. The statement of the home minister is unfortunate. Everyone saw the video that the youth was brutally beaten up while he was pleading," said Masood.

State cabinet minister Sarang alleged that Owaisi is playing divisive politics and involved in the appeasement of Muslims. "Those who are involved in playing divisive politics are anti-nationals. They do not have the right to make fun of the people of Madhya Pradesh. Owaisi is a small and insignificant leader. He works to please a particular class. Madhya Pradesh is an island of peace and those involved in appeasement keep creating controversies," said Sarang.

Meanwhile, senior BJP MLA and

Hindutva

leader Rameshwar Sharma said that there is no need of Owaisi and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh is enough to instigate Muslims in the state. "A person who is involed in molesting a daughter is a 'helpless' Muslim and you see "Jihad' in Afghanistan where Talibans are killing fellow Muslims. The girl (victim) belonged to a Hindu family. We can also lay siege at the police station, gather crowds and raise religious slogans, but we trust the constitution made by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. Law will take its own course. Go somewhere else, here Digvijay Singh is enough for Muslim appeasement," allegedSharma.

Home minister Mishra has also said that the government is considering imposing a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) organisation. He said Muslim society has demanded to ban the activities of the organization which is being considered by the authorities.