BJP leader T Raja Singh on Sunday, 2 June, said that the AIMIM leader Asadussin Owaisi is “financially supporting” the terrorists.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Owaisi said, “Asaduddin Owaisi is supporting terrorists financially and today in his constituency more than 7,000 Muslim from different nations are living.”
Singh said this while asserting that the BJP will win Hyderabad Parliamentary seat by 2024 which will be “end for Owaisi”.
The statement comes after Minister of State for Home Affairs Kishan Reddy had said, “Wherever in the country a terrorist incident happens, its roots are in Hyderabad.”
Supporting Reddy’s statement, Singh said, “I support the statement of BJP MP Kishan Reddy because last time when a bomb blast occurred in Hyderabad, people who accused in that bomb were also from his constituency. If we take Gujarat Haren Pandya case, the accused were from his constituency and 12 ISIS terrorist have also been caught from his constituency.”
What Did Kishan Reddy Say?
Reddy, who is Minister of State (Home), had kicked up a controversy on Friday after he was quoted by a newspaper as saying, “Wherever in the country a terrorist incident happens, its roots are in Hyderabad.”
He also reportedly called the city a ‘terror safe haven’ and added that the Union home ministry would take appropriate action against illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar in Hyderabad.
However, a day later, Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly warned his junior minister for linking Hyderabad to terror.
According to CNN News18, Shah rebuked Reddy for his comments and asked him to refrain from making any controversial statements, at the newly-inducted MHA’s first meeting which was held on Saturday.
Owaisi Reacts to Reddy’s Comments
Meanwhile, Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi had slammed Reddy for his comments earlier, stating that the BJP saw all Muslims as terrorists. According to Outlook, Owaisi said:
“He has spoken in a disgraceful manner even before taking charge. Talking like this in an irresponsible manner does not suit a minister. But we expect them to talk like this because wherever they (BJP) see Muslims, they see terrorists.”
He further asked Reddy to prove how many times the agencies might have termed Hyderabad a safe zone for terror in writing. “I'd like to ask him that in last 5 years how many times have NIA, IB & RAW gave in writing that Hyderabad is a safe zone for terror? It is unfortunate the he is saying such things.”
Reddy Clarifies, Says He Stands By Statement
Soon after Owaisi’s remarks, Reddy clarified that his comments had been misconstrued, and had not given any religious colour to his earlier statement.
Speaking to News18, Reddy said, “My comments have been misconstrued. I never said Muslims are terrorists. BJP does not mix religion with terror.”
He, however, added that he stood by his statement, and that the NIA had arrested several terrorists from the city.
“If an incident takes place in Bengaluru, Bhopal, its roots are traced to Hyderabad. State police, NIA have arrested terrorists in Hyderabad every 2-3 months. I didn’t say anything wrong.”
Meanwhile, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti too reacted to Reddy’s reported statement, stating that Reddy linking calling Hyderabad a terror safe zone sends out a wrong message.
Speaking to ANI, TRS leader Abid Rasool Khan said: “The statements given by the newly appointed Minister of State for Home, G Kishan Reddy, categorising Hyderabad as a safe zone for terror sends a very wrong signal to investors and businesses which are planning to invest in the state.”
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