INVC NEWS
Lucknow,
Unfazed by the last minute cancellation of its Allahabad rally, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) is gearing up for the party’s Agra rally scheduled to be held on March 29 with Hyderabad MP and MIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi as the keynote speaker.
“Preparations are underway in full swing for Owaisi’s maiden rally in Agra after cancellation of the Allahabad programme”, said MIM state chief Shaukat Ali.
Ali also criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for the cancellation of party’s Allahabad rally, which was to be held on March 15.
“The manner in which the permission was granted and then withdrawn in the past is a clear sign that Samajwadi Party is scared of MIM entry in UP,” Ali claimed.
The Allahabad administration had withdrawn the permission granted to Owaisi’s public meeting in Allahabad, citing “opposition by the local public” and ongoing “board examinations” as reasons.
This was the third time Asaduddin Owaisi, winner of ‘Model MP’ award, was refused permission to hold a rally in Uttar Pradesh. He was earlier denied permission to hold rallies in Azamgarh and Meerut. On February 13 this year, the MIM had held its maiden rally in Uttar Pradesh – without Owaisi – in Maharajganj district.
Owaisi had faced similar situation ahead of the Maharashtra state elections in 2014 when his rallies were denied permissions in Malegaon, Mumbai, Dhule and Aurangabad one after the other. Last month, Owaisi was also denied entry into Bengaluru. He however surprised the police officers by offering flowers to them for the move.
Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a right wing extremist group, has demanded a ban on Asaduddin Owaisi’s entry in Agra and hold rally.
VHP’s Braj Prant Organisation Secretary Raghvendra said a delegation met the local administration Wednesday urging them to ban the entry of Owaisi in Agra because he delivers “provocative and objectionable speeches on religious lines”.
He said if the administration does not cancel the permission, the VHP will go for agitation.
