'I don't want to live a stifled life': Owaisi rejects 'Z' category security
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday rejected Centre's offer to provide him ‘Z’ category security. “I want to live with freedom and not a stifled life. I want to be an ‘A category’ citizen,” he said.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 4 Feb 2022 1:12 PM GMT
Hyderabad: AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday rejected Centre's offer to provide him 'Z' category security. "I want to live with freedom and not a stifled life. I want to be an 'A category' citizen," he said.
Mr. Owaisi was given 'Z' category security after shots were fired at his car on Thursday while he was returning to Delhi after campaigning in Meerut for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
"I request you to see what they said about me in Haridwar, Mathura. You have the IB report on that. I am not afraid of dying but I want to appeal to the government to see what was said. I don't want 'Z' security. I want to live with freedom and not a stifled life. I want to be an 'A category' citizen," the AIMIM chief said in the Parliament.
He added, "My life is only as important as the life of Aqhlaq and Pehlu Khan. I want to live, to speak. My life will be safe when the poor are safe. I will not get scared of those who shot at my car."
He demanded invoking the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the attackers, referring to the tough anti-terror law that has been extensively used in recent times by the BJP-led state governments and the Centre, and according to critics, disproportionately against Muslims.
He also added that right-wing communalism and terrorism will increase with teens getting radicalised.
The government had decided to provide Mr. Owaisi 'Z' category security after reviewing the threat level in light of Thursday's attack. Two people have been arrested for firing at the MP's convoy at Meerut's Kithoudh area, the police said.
Union minister Piyush Goyal said Home minister Amit Shah will give a statement on the shooting incident on Monday. "The whole House is grateful and thankful to God that he (Owaisi) is safe and we wish him a long life. The state government has conducted an inquiry and has recovered some items. The Home minister on Monday will give a full statement on this," Mr. Goyal said.
