'Will cut off his hand': AIMIM leader threatens action over harassment of Muslim women; condemns UP minister’s comment on Hijab row

NEW DELHI: AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel on Friday said he would "cut off the hand of any individual who dares to touch Muslim women with ill intent," amid controversy over Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s action of pulling down a hijab from a woman’s face.Addressing a rally in Maharashtra, Jaleel also took a veiled jibe at BJP, alleging that "so-called secular parties" often support goons and criminal elements but hesitate to stand with Muslims."A minister from Uttar Pradesh had made an objectionable remark. If anyone dares to touch a Muslim sister with ill intent, I will cut his hand," the former Aurangabad MP said, referring to a comment by UP minister Sanjay Nishad on the hijab row involving Nitish Kumar. Nishad had said, "What would have happened if he touched her somewhere else?" and later clarified that his comment was twisted and misinterpreted.Campaigning for 17 AIMIM candidates in the upcoming January 15 municipal corporation elections, Jaleel accused other parties of branding AIMIM as communal while failing to support Muslims."Secular parties often brand AIMIM as a communal and untouchable party, whereas in reality, they themselves are the most communal and do not want Muslims to emerge as leaders. They have no hesitation in favouring goons and criminal elements, but they hesitate to stand with Muslims or give proper representation to the Muslim community," he alleged, as quoted by PTI.Jaleel also mocked Maharashtra Social Justice Minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat’s demand to freeze AIMIM’s ‘kite’ election symbol, citing the coincidence of the civic polls with the Makar Sankranti festival. In a lighter remark, he urged Shiv Sena and BJP leaders not to wear "watches" for the next month, targeting the 'Clock' symbol of their Mahayuti ally, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).