Asaduddin Owaisi banned from participating in Bengaluru political rally
The Bengaluru police commissioner issued the ban order after taking into consideration the number of cases filed against Owaisi in different parts of the country for his inflammatory speeches.
The Bengaluru police has banned another firebrand leader from participating in a political rally in the city limits. Two weeks after the police banned VHP leader Praveen Togadia from addressing a Hindu convention, the city police has now restricted fiery speaker and AIMIM's MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi from participating in a political rally in the IT capital on February 21.
The Bengaluru police commissioner issued the ban order after taking into consideration the number of cases filed against the MP in different parts of the country for his inflammatory speeches.
According to the police, the city has a heterogeneous, cosmopolitan culture with a mixed demography of various communities like Hindus, Muslims and Christians. In the recent past, incidents of communal overtones have been reported in districts like Belagavi, Mangaluru and Vijaypura, the police added.
"The city (Bengaluru), being the capital of the state, is affected by such incidents. In spite of the strong resentment against his provocative, inflammatory speeches from the learned public throughout the country, Owaisi continues to make speeches and hurt the religious sentiments of other communities while provoking religious fundamentalism. His speeches, at many places, have led to communal disturbances," the police said in its ban order that was issued on Wednesday.
According to the order, the AIMIM leader cannot enter Bengaluru between February 19 and 25. The audio or video transmission of his message has also been banned.
The Hyderabad MP was scheduled to address a convention of party workers in Shivajinagara, a locality branded as highly communally sensitive by the police. The area had witnessed several communal clashes in the past.
Togadia had contested his ban in court but failed to get any relief, it remains to be seen how Owaisi will respond to the police order. The rally, which Owaisi was supposed to address, has also been banned by the police.