Let NIA Take Over Blast Probe: Asad Owaisi

The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen on Saturday demanded that the state government entrust the investigation of the Dilsukhnagar twin-blast case to the National Investigation Agency.

Addressing the party activists on the occasion of MIM's 55th anniversary celebrations at Dar-ul-salaam, MIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the twin blasts and paid tribute to those killed in the terror attack.

Describing the blast as an attack on the entire country, he demanded that the guilty should be severely punished. "The families of the deceased and those injured in the blasts are poor, and therefore, the government must extend all possible help to them," he said.

Asaduddin Owaisi demanded that the blast not be politicised. "This is an attack on our country. People have lost their lives, and many of those injured are still undergoing treatment in the hospitals. The government should ensure an impartial and professional probe," he demanded.

The MIM president alleged that some officials and a section of media were trying to give a communal colour to the blasts. He said that within an hour after the blast, the news channels came out with different stories pointing a finger towards the Muslim community.

He alleged that the police were harassing innocent youth. He said that the youth who were given character certificates by the government after wrongful arrests in the Mecca Masjid blast case were also picked up for questioning.

Asaduddin Owaisi said that the police and a section of media were sending a wrong message among the people. He said that terrorists had planted bombs with an intention to kill Indian citizens, irrespective of their religion, and that therefore, the investigation should be impartial, and the real culprits should be brought to book.

He advised the media not to divide the people on communal lines. He also threatened to file criminal defamation suits against news channels and newspapers, if they continue to target the Muslim community.

The MIM leader also condemned Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde for stating that the Dilsukhnagar blasts were a reaction to the hanging of Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab. He said that by making such a statement, the Home Minister was trying to influence the investigation by forcing the agencies to probe in only one angle.

Asaduddin Owaisi also announced that the MIM wants to float a Muslim-Dalit-BC political front in the state.

In view of the Dilsukhnagar blasts, the MIM's anniversary celebrations were kept a low key affair. Instead of taking out the traditional rally from Asad Owaisi's residence at Hyderguda to the party's headquarters, the celebrations were confined too a flag hoisting at Dar-ul-salaam followed by Asad Owaisi's address.

MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi did not participate in the anniversary celebrations due to ill-health. MIM MLA Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri appealed to the people to pray for Akbar Owaisi's health.

MIM MLAs Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, Muqteda Afsar Khan, Maozam Khan, Virasat Rasool Khan and Ahmed Balala, GHMC Mayor Mohammad Majid Hussain, corporators and other leaders were also present. (INN)