Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday told the Rajya Sabha that the Government’s request to Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, to accept Z category security after a recent attack on his car in Uttar Pradesh has been turned down by the Hyderabad Parliamentarian.
Shah repeated his offer to Owaisi and urged him to accept the security.
The Union Home Minister informed the Upper House that the Government has received verbal intimation about Owaisi’s rejection of the offer.
Later Owisis tweeted, “Today in Parliament, HM Amit Shah asked me to accept Z category security. I want to say to him that value of my life is not more than 22 people who died during CAA protest. I don’t like people with arms around me, I’m a free bird, want to live freely.”
Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha, Shah said that a Government assessment has found that Owaisi still faces security threat, but the Home Ministry has been informed that the Hyderabad MP has refused to take the CRPF protection.
Reading out a statement, Shah said, “The MHA has received a report from the State Government. In the past also, based on threat assessment by the Central agencies, the Centre had issued directions to provide security to Owaisi. But due to his reluctance, the Delhi Police and the Telangana Police have not been able to provide security to him. The threat to him has been assessed and based on that, it has been decided to grant Z category security to him with a bulletproof car in Delhi. But, as per communication from him received verbally, he has refused to accept it. I request him to accept the security given to him by the Centre,” Shah said.
Shots were fired at Owaisi’s car on February 3, 2022, in Uttar Pradesh following which two persons were arrested and arms were recovered. A detailed investigation is being carried out in the case and the Home Ministry had sought a report from the State Government, Shah said.
“Through the House, I would like to request Owaisi ji to accept the security to address our concerns about his safety,” the Minister said.
He also added that the authorities of the Hapur district, where the incident took place on February 3, had no prior information about Owaisi’s movement through the area.
“Owaisi had no pre-scheduled event in Hapur district, nor was any information about his movement shared with the District Control Room beforehand,” Shah said.
Shah said the incident happened when Owaisi’s convoy was crossing the Chhijarsi toll plaza near Pilkhuwa in Hapur district around 5.20 pm. At the time, Owaisi was returning to Delhi after attending a public outreach event at Meerut. Shah said the UP Police, taking quick action, have arrested two accused and seized two unauthorised pistols and a car.
Forensic teams are carrying out a detailed examination of the car, the lower portion of which had three bullet marks, and the site where the incident took place, Shah said. He added that an investigation is underway based on an FIR lodged under IPC Section 307 and Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.