Hyderabad: Taking a dig at Maharashtra’s Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for his recent “Aurangazeb ki aulaad,” remarks, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief on Asaduddin Owaisi hit back with do they know who are the offspring of Nathuram Godse and Vaman Shivram Apte.
Owaisi’s remarks come in the wake of the controversy that erupted following the Kolhapur violence in Maharashtra, where a protest against alleged ‘objectionable’ social media posts on Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan turned violent.
On Wednesday Fadnavis had said, “Suddenly, in some districts of Maharashtra, sons of Aurangzeb took birth. They keep the status of Aurangzeb and show their posters. Because of this, there are tensions. Questions arise, where do these sons of Aurangzeb come from? Who are behind this? We will find this out.”
Owaisi, while addressing a programme of his party on Thursday said, “Maharashtra’s Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis said ‘Aurangzeb ke aulaad.’ Do you know everything? I didn’t know you (Fadnavis) were such an expert. Then you should know who the children of Godse and Apte too, who are they?”
Asaduddin Owaisi also attacked the BJP on the issue of ‘love jihad’ and others, alleging that the party sought to spread hatred and defame Muslims.
Addressing a public meeting here late on Thursday night, he referred to the violence in Kolhapur and said “RSS people” hit the streets in the city after “someone carried a photo of Tipu Sultan”.
A curfew was imposed in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur on Wednesday after a violent clash broke out between two groups.
Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.
Meanwhile, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar on Thursday said that there is no need for politics in the Kolhapur incident.
Taking a swipe, he said BJP and the Centre should release a list banning names like Tipu, Aurangzeb and Babur, like the ban on 44 organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Quoting a Maharashtra minister as having said that 21 people have been nabbed, he said: “If keeping a photo is a crime, say what section of IPC (it was)?”
Further attacking the BJP, he said the party should state that it will not include the names of Godse in the “prohibited list of names”.
“Now, the matter has come to names also,” he said.
‘Love jihad? Where’s the proof?’: Owaisi
Talking about ‘love jihad’, he said a number of such incidents and other details should be released if ‘love jihad’ is happening in Maharashtra.
“If love jihad is happening in Maharashtra, give an estimate, a number, that this (incident) happened in Ahmednagar, this is what happened in Kolhapur, Sangli, western Maharashtra, Marathwada. Say that. (But) nothing. Love jihad is happening. Where is it happening,” he said.
“BJP government organised 50 meetings in Maharashtra only to spread hatred, to defame Muslims, Islam,” he said.
Alleging a conspiracy to organise riots in Maharashtra before the parliament elections, he praised his party MP from Aurangabad (Sambhajinagar) Imtiaz Jaleel for reportedly “protecting” a temple by standing in front of it for three hours when there was an alleged attempt to trigger trouble in the town.
He said the Centre and BJP government in Maharashtra to stop such alleged incidents.
“It is another matter that you have to win parliament in Maharashtra. But, it will not be this way,” he said.
Driver suspended for stopping bus for namaz in UP
The AIMIM president also attacked the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly suspending a bus driver for halting a bus for “three minutes” to enable a Muslim man to perform prayer.
“If performing prayer is a crime, then there should not be religious symbols of anyone in total government offices,” he said.
The BJP talks about ‘sab ka saath, sab ka vikas, sab ka vishwas’, but a bus driver is suspended for halting bus for two minutes, he said.
NCP, Shinde respond to communal incidents
“Unfortunately, some people have created such a situation. This is not right for society…Common people have to pay its price…There is no need for politics in this. When this is investigated, the truth will come before everyone,” the Nationalist Congress chief said while speaking to the reporters.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde emphasized the government’s responsibility for maintaining law and order in the state and appealed to the public for peace and calm.
“The government is responsible for maintaining law and order in the state. I also appeal to the public for peace and calm. The police investigation is underway and action will be taken against those found guilty…” said Shinde.
(The story has been edited with inputs from news agencies)
