AIMIM chief Owaisi rejects 'Z' security, asks govt to file case under UAPA

Tribune News Service

Vibha Sharma

New Delhi, February 4

A day after shots were allegedly fired at his car near Hapur, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday turned down the second-highest ‘Z’ security cover, saying that he would rather be an ‘A’ category citizen in the country and urged the government to charge the "culprits" with stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Owasi questioned: “Who are these people who are so radicalised and believe in bullet and not ballot”.

“I don't need ‘Z’ category security. I want to be an ‘A’ category citizen, at par with you all. Why was the UAPA not invoked against those who fired at me?” he said, referring to the tough anti-terror law that has been used by BJP-led state governments and the Centre, “disproportionately against Muslims”, according to critics.

“Please stop this ‘nafrat ki rajneeti’ (politics of hatred),” he said.

“I need to be free to speak about the poor and downtrodden. I want to live, to speak. My life will be safe when the poor are safe. I will not get scared of those who shot at my car,” he added

“I need justice, please invoke the UAPA against culprits,” he demanded, warning that such “radicalisation would harm you”.

On Thursday, gunshots were fired at Owais’s vehicle in western Uttar Pradesh when he was returning to Delhi after campaigning for the Assembly elections.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal said Home Minister Amit Shah would give a detailed reply on the incident on Monday.

The government had decided to provide him with ‘Z’ category security by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) after reviewing the threat level in the light of last night’s attack.

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