Majlis president Asaduddin Owaisi’s plans to address a public meeting in Bengaluru were foiled by the police yet again. For the second time, the Bengaluru police denied permission to hold a meeting and prohibited his entry into the city for seven days from February 19 to 25.
A police team from Bengaluru visited the Majlis headquarters at Darussalm here on Thursday and served the notice on behalf of the Bengaluru city police commissioner, M.N. Reddi, who prohibited the entry of Mr. Asaduddin under Section 144 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The notice further restrained him from participating in and speaking at any public meeting/function directly or through audio-visual or any other media.
The Majlis office was a beehive of activity when the Bengaluru police descended here. Mr. Asaduddin said he would challenge the police notice in the court since it sought to interfere with the right to freedom of expression.
He termed as biased and untruthful the contents of the notice served on him and said he would strive for the rights of minorities, weaker sections and backward classes.
“As an Indian, I can speak in the Parliament and not in Bengaluru,” Mr. Asaduddin said.
He saw the police notice as a ‘convenient device’ to stop his party from strengthening its base before the Bengaluru municipal elections.
