'Safe When Dalits, Downtrodden Are Safe': Owaisi on Amit Shah's Security Appeal

Owaisi's response came to to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's appeal to him to accept Z-category security cover.

Amit Shah urges Asaduddin Owaisi to accept the security offered by central government. Image used for representation purpose.

(Image altered by The Quint)

Video Producer: Shohini Bose

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam

Video Input: Tajinder Singh

Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's appeal to him to accept Z-category security, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday, 7 February, according to media reports, said:

"Amit Shah appealed today for me to take back Z security. Owaisi will be safe once the Dalits, the downtrodden and the minorities of this country are safe.”

Further, as per NDTV, Owaisi didn’t budge from his position to not accept the high-level security cover.

On Monday, the Home Minister had urged MP Owaisi to accept the Z-category security offered to him by the central government following the attack on his convoy in Uttar Pradesh's Hapur on 3 February.

What Had the Home Minister Said?

Speaking in Rajya Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament on Monday, Shah made a statement regarding the alleged attempt on the AIMIM chief's life.

"Owaisi had no prescheduled event in Hapur district, no information about his movement was sent to District Control Room beforehand. After the incident, he reached Delhi safely," the home minister stated.

Shah appealed to Owaisi to accept the security offered to him by the central government.

"The central government had offered security to Owaisi. However, he has denied the security. I appeal to him to immediately take the protection."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Earlier, Shad had said, "The law and order situation in the district is now normal. Strict vigilance is being maintained. The threat to Owaisi has been reassessed and a bulletproof vehicle and Z category security has been given to him."

Background

On 4 February, Owaisi had said that he did not want Z-category security. He questioned why his alleged attackers had not been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) yet.

Shots were fired at Owaisi's vehicle near a toll plaza on NH9 in Hapur on Thursday, 3 February. The Hyderabad MP was en route to Delhi after attending an event in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut when the incident occurred.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered and two people have been arrested in connection with the attack. Two pistols and a Maruti Alto car were apprehended. Sachin Sharma, one of the persons arrested for allegedly firing at the vehicle of the AIMIM president, had claimed that he's a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

(With inputs from NDTV.)