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Akbaruddin Owaisi GALLERY.
Muslim lawmaker and the leader of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, or the Council of the Union of Muslims, Akbaruddin Owaisi, center in black, makes his way through the crowd as he leaves the Government Gandhi Hospital after medical tests in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013. Police say they have arrested Owaisi in a southern Indian state for making inflammatory speeches against majority Hindus. Muslim lawmaker and the leader of M
It has been my experience that the best way to deal with political rabble-rousers is to call their bluff and bluster. I have never met Akbaruddin Owaisi, the 42 year old MLA of the Hyderabad-based Majlis-e-Ittihad al Muslimin, but listening to his recent incendiary speech at a public gathering in Adilabad, I see no reason for him to roam free. Clearly, his hateful vocabulary has no place in a civilised democracy. I have, however, met the elder Owaisi brother, the MIM MP, Asauddin Owaisi. Senior Owaisi in private is a soft-spoken, highly courteous gent, with a Bar at Law degree from the prestigious Lincolns Inn. During parliament sessions, he invites journalists and fellow MPs for a Hyderabadi daawat and is always a gracious host. Since my gastronomic habits are distinctly secular (I have had crabs and red wine with the Thackerays and jalebis with VHP leaders), the haleem at Owaisi's lunch is always a delight. And yet, away from the genteel lunches, the crowded bylanes of the walled city of Hyderabad present a very different picture. This is the Owaisi family bastion where first the father Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi was a 6 time MP and now Asauddin is a two time MP. Why does an otherwise dignified individual transform himself into a fiery demagogue the moment he steps into his constituency? The answer must lie in political compulsions. In Delhi, Asauddin Owaisi is a back-bencher MP; in Hyderabad, his self-image is of a strident protector of Muslims who seeks votes by preying on the fears and insecurities of his core followers. It is a peculiar schizophrenia that one could almost excuse if only it were not so dangerous. [caption id=attachment_584282 align=alignleft width=380 It has been my experience that the
strongHyderabad:/strong A court in Medak district today granted bail to jailed MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi in connection with a case for preventing officials from performing their duties, while another court in Nizambad district turned down his bail plea in a hate speech case. Medak Additional Principal and Sessions Judge granted bail to Akbaruddin and directed him to submit two sureties of Rs 10,000 each. Seeking bail for Akbaruddin, his counsel had yesterday pleaded before the court that his client will be present before the court whenever directed to do so. [caption id=attachment_614932 align=alignleft width=380 strongHyderabad:/strong A court in
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi surrendered before a Andhra Pradesh court today in connection with the 2005 protest case. Soon afterwards, he applied for a bail. However,he was remanded in judicial custody till 2 February and will spend the night in jail today. His petition will be heard tomorrow. Owaisi's brother Akbaruddin Owaisi along with other MIM leaders are also accused in the case. strongWhat happened in 2005? /strong The case is related to the incident which took place in 2005 when district officials led by then collector Anil Kumar Singhal were removing encroachments that included a place of worship in Muttangi in Patancheru area of Medak district. At this time MIM leaders including Asaduddin, Akbaruddin, Afsar Khan, Pasha Qadri and Mozam Khan allegedly obstructed and pushed the collector aside. strongWhat happened after that/strong? [caption id=attachment_596306 align=alignleft width=380 All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslim
Akbaruddin Owaisi might be hogging the headlines for his recenta href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI94cm8Zihghighly inflammatory speech/abut this is the not the first time that the Owaisis are courting controversy. Asaduddin Owaisi - Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad and Akbaruddin Owaisi - MLA are known for routine inflammatory speeches in and outside their respective constituencies. Watch the video above for a quick round of their controversial speeches. Akrabuddin recently went on a tirade against the Hindus in a speech full of hatred in Adilabad. But even before this the Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen MLA has incited hatred. a href=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mla-vows-to-behead-taslima-nasreen/46658-3.htmlIn this video/a, he said We in Hyderabad want to behead this woman according to the fatwa, when Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen had come to Hyderabad. [caption id=attachment_577126 align=alignleft width=380 Akbaruddin Owaisi might be hogging
Akbaruddin Owaisi's words at set of public gatherings might have been dubbed a 'hate speech' by many, but according to his brother and MP Asaduddin Owaisi it was is merely a speech demanding religious equality and his arrest was a conspiracy against the Owaisis . In an exclusive interview to Rajdeep Sardesai on emCNN-IBN/em, he said, This (Akbaruddin's speech) is a speech demanding religious and political equality. What were you doing when Atal Bihari Vajpayee said in Goa 'emtrain kisne jalayi thi?/em' (referring to the train burning incident in Godhra) Also what were you doing when slogans were hurled em'ek dhakka aur do, babri masjid tod do/em' ? he asked. [caption id=attachment_583279 align=alignleft width=380 Akbaruddin Owaisi's words at set of
strongHyderabad:/strong Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, accused of sedition for his hate speech, was today booked in a similar case, police said. Based on a complaint filed by city corporator Raja Singh, a local court had last month directed the Mangalhat police to investigate a speech made by Akbaruddin at Nanded in Maharashtra in 2012, which allegedly targeted a particular community. Following a direction to probe the Nanded speech and file a report by February 11, the police, accordingly, booked a case against Akbaruddin under relevant sections of IPC, a senior police officer said. [caption id=attachment_613497 align=alignleft width=380 strongHyderabad:/strong Majlis-e-It
strongBangalore:/strongThe Karnataka High Court today stayed for three weeks proceedings against Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi in a lower court here in connection with a complaint filed against him for his alleged hate speech. Hearing a criminal petition by Owaisi seeking quashing of the proceedings against him, Justice K N Keshavanarayana stayed for three weeks the proceedings pending before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court. In January this year, the CMM court had summoned Owaisi to appear before it in connection complaint lodged by advocates Dilip Kumar and Dharmapal praying for prosecuting Owaisi for his hate speech at a public meeting in Adilabad in Andra Pradesh. [caption id=attachment_645513 align=alignleft width=380 strongBangalore:/strongThe Karnatak
strongHyderabad:/strong A court in Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh today extended till 12 February the judicial remand of MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi in a hate speech case. Akbaruddin was brought from Adilabad District Jail, where he has been lodged since 9 January, in connection with another hate speech case registered at Nirmal town of Adilabad, and produced before the First Additional District Magistrate (ADM). The court, while extending Akbaruddin's remand, fixed 12 February as the date for recording his voice sample, which will be done in the presence of experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). He was later shifted back to Adilabad District Jail. [caption id=attachment_617505 align=alignleft width=380 strongHyderabad:/strong A court in
strongHyderabad/strong: The Nizamabad police is interrogating MIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi on 1 February, facing sedition charges for his alleged hate speech in December last year, police said. Akbaruddin, who is in judicial remand and lodged at the Adilabad district jail, was brought to Nizamabad town this morning and was being questioned by Investigating officer at the Armed Reserve headquarters, they said. [caption id=attachment_610275 align=alignleft width=380 strongHyderabad/strong: The Nizamab
As Akbaruddin Owaisi drove back 300 km from Adilabad Jail to his home Hyderabad on Saturday evening, I wonder if he thought that the past two months have been such a long journey. The state took time to realise the hate content in his Urdu speeches that he delivered in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts in December but once it did, things went out of control for Owaisi junior and he had to cool his heels behind bars for close to five weeks before being released on bail. Politically for Owaisi and his party, the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and for the Muslim community at large, the hate speech episode has been a setback. Just like with every person who has indulged in hate politics in the past, it has created both an ardent group of admirers as well as fierce critics for Akbar. Within Hyderabad, the leader of the MIM legislature party in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly is a huge polarising figure today. Mazher Hussain of Confederation of Voluntary Associations, a network that works extensively on issues of communal harmony in India, says that while the adulation may bring some short-term benefits, what should worry Akbar is that there are many in the Muslim community who are equally angry with him for losing control over his tongue, either deliberately or without realising it. There are many who feel his diatribe has brought a bad name to the community, especially when Islam specifically prohibits Muslims from speaking ill of another religion and faith. [caption id=attachment_628464 align=alignleft width=380 As Akbaruddin Owaisi drove back 300
The Akbaruddin Owaisi hate speech of 24 December 2012 is not what everyone thinks it is. Despite the incendiary nature of the speech, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader's poison tongue should be seen for what it is: an attempt to cock a snook at so-called secular parties. Muslims are keen to move away from the umbrella provided by these parties. Parties such as the Congress and Samajwadi are thus being put on notice. While Owaisi will get his brief time in jail, it is unlikely to achieve anything more than increase his attraction to his Muslim constituency. And the real message is here. For some time now Muslims have been the only constituency treated as a vote-bank without their own direct share of power (except in Kerala and Kashmir). Every caste, every group and every community has had the advantage of being represented by one of their own in India's raucous democracy, but Muslims have had to seek compromise under secular umbrellas - often under the Congress and various regional parties in the states. Owaisi's rabble-rousing speech should thus be seen as another a href=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/parties-beware-the-muslim-vote-bank-is-about-to-go-bust-493282.htmlattempt to separate the Muslim vote bank from secular parties/a - and this trend can only accelerate over the coming years. [caption id=attachment_582436 align=alignleft width=380 The Akbaruddin Owaisi hate speech o
Member of Legeslative Assembly from the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party, Akbaruddin Owaisi (C) leaves the Gandhi Hospital after medical tests in Hyderabad on January 8, 2013. Owaisi, who is facing multiple cases for his alleged 'hate speech', was arrested by the police. Member of Legeslative Assembly from
Indian police charge supporters of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party after the arrest of their leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in Hyderabad on January 8, 2013. Owaisi, who is facing multiple cases for his alleged 'hate speech', was arrested by the police. Indian police charge supporters of
strongHyderabad:/strong Government doctors will examine MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi today to find out if he is physically fit for questioning by police in connection with the case booked against him over his alleged hate speeches, police said. Owaisi, who is leader of MIM in Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly, has also moved the high court, seeking orders to restrain police from arresting him and also to quash cases booked against him in various police stations over his alleged hate speeches. Hours after Owaisi, who returned from London early Monday, cited ill-health and sought four days' time to personally appear for questioning before police in Nirmal town of Adilabad district, the investigation officer visited the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader's house here to ascertain his condition. [caption id=attachment_580407 align=alignleft width=380 strongHyderabad:/strong Government
An Indian man pleads with the police as they disperse supporters of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party after the arrest of their leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in Hyderabad on January 8, 2013. Owaisi, who is facing multiple cases for his alleged 'hate speech', was arrested by the police. An Indian man pleads with the polic
Member of Legeslative Assembly from the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party, Akbaruddin Owaisi (2R) leaves the Gandhi Hospital after medical tests in Hyderabad on January 8, 2013. Owaisi, who is facing multiple cases for his alleged 'hate speech', was arrested by the police. Member of Legeslative Assembly from
Indian supporters of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party shout slogans after the arrest of their leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in Hyderabad on January 8, 2013. Owaisi, who is facing multiple cases for his alleged 'hate speech', was arrested by the police. Indian supporters of Majlis-e-Itteh
strongAdilabad:/strong The police today began interrogation of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, booked for alleged sedition and criminal conspiracy for his hate speech, a day after getting his five-day custody from a court here in Andhra Pradesh. Nirmal town police in Adilabad district, who had registered a case against Owaisi, arrested him from Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad on 8 January. He was later remanded in 14-day judicial custody. [caption id=attachment_585803 align=alignleft width=380 strongAdilabad:/strong The police t
strongNirmal, Andhra Pradesh:/strong The Andhra Pradesh Police today sought seven-day custody of MIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi after he was remanded in 14-day judicial custody in Adilabad district following his arrest in a hate speech case. Nirmal Police, which is investigating the case, filed a petition in the Nirmal Munsif Magistrate court seeking seven days custodial interrogation of Akbaruddin as part of further probe, Karimnagar Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) R Bhimanayak said. [caption id=attachment_582341 align=alignleft width=380 strongNirmal, Andhra Pradesh:/stron
Nearly 40 days after he was arrested in a hate speech case, MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi walked out of jail on Saturday. The legislator was released from district jail in Adilabad, about 300 km from here, at 5 pm after his lawyers completed all formalities of the bail granted him Friday. Courts in Adilabad and Nizamabad had Friday granted conditional bail to the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader. [caption id=attachment_628050 align=alignleft width=380 Nearly 40 days after he was arreste
strongHyderabad:/strong Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, booked for allegedly making a hate speech against a particular community, today sought four days time to appear before Andhra Pradesh Police. Owaisi, who was supposed to appear before Nirmal police today, requested that he be granted four days to appear before them. However, police are yet to take a call on his request, a senior police officer said, adding the decision on whether to grant him the permission will be taken at a senior level. [caption id=attachment_579556 align=alignleft width=380 strongHyderabad:/strong Majlis-e-It
strongHyderabad:/strong In fresh trouble for jailedMajlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, alocal court today took cognisance of a complaint against himfor his alleged hate speech and issued summons directing him to appear before it on 4 February. The II Metropolitan Magistrate Court of L B Nagar tookcognisance of a complaint filed by one Balam Ishwar Yadavafter he saw a video online wherein Owaisi allegedly made aprovocative speech against a particular community. [caption id=attachment_583991 align=alignleft width=380 strongHyderabad:/strong In fresh tr
strongNagpur:/strong BJP leader Uma Bharti today defended Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia, who has been booked in a hate speech case. Bharti urged the Maharashtra government to first consider Togadia's comments and compare these with MIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi's only if the manner in which both spoke was similar. Owaisi was also booked for hate speech in Andhra Pradesh. A case was registered against Togadia after he allegedly made a hate speech at a public meeting in Nanded district 22 January. The VHP leader allegedly took potshots at Owaisi. [caption id=attachment_619263 align=alignleft width=380 strongNagpur:/strong BJP leader Uma
strongNirmal (AP):/strong The Andhra Pradesh Police today sought seven-day custody of MIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi after he was remanded in 14-day judicial custody in Adilabad district following his arrest in a hate speech case. Nirmal Police, which is investigating the case, filed a petition in the Nirmal Munsif Magistrate court seeking seven days custodial interrogation of Akbaruddin as part of further probe, Karimnagar Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) R Bhimanayak told emPTI/em. [caption id=attachment_582294 align=alignleft width=380 strongNirmal (AP):/strong The Andhr
strongNew Delhi: /strongJanata Dal-United leader Shivanand Tiwari said Monday that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi were two sides of the same coin, attracting censure from the BJP which asked the JD-U leadership to restrain Tiwari. There is no difference between them (Bhagwat and Owaisi), both are two sides of the same coin... both create hatred in society in order to boost their vote banks, said Tiwari, a Rajya Sabha member from Bihar. [caption id=attachment_580114 align=alignleft width=380 strongNew Delhi: /strongJanata Dal-
The MIM has bowled to the BJP a well-flighted delivery that we have hit for a sixer.'' This was the reaction of a BJP leader from Andhra Pradesh, who spoke on condition that he would not be named, describing the face-off between the two parties. Yes, there is a lot of anger and anguish over the kind of language Akbaruddin Owaisi used against our Gods and Goddesses but there is also the realisation that there is a tremendous opportunity that we should exploit politically,'' he explained. Believe it or not, the thinking is on the same lines in the political enemy camp. The MIM admits it is on the back foot after Owaisi's arrest but now its leaders and cadre are determined to fight it out, both legally and on the streets and polarise Muslim public opinion in its favour, even outside Hyderabad's Old city area. [caption id=attachment_581832 align=alignleft width=380 The MIM has bowled to the BJP a wel
Akbaruddin Owaisi, who has been remanded to 14 days in judicial custody for his communal speech, is hoping for relief from the Andhra Pradesh High court today where two petitions challenging his arrest could come up for hearing. However, his supporters weren't willing to wait for the result of the hearing and protested against his arrest by damaging vans belonging to news media outlets that had gone to Adilabad to cover the news of his arrest. Owaisi, a state legislator representing the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), was arrested yesterday in a Hyderabad hospital and taken to Adilabad. He was produced before a court where he was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. His supporters turned on media vans in Adilabad today and damaged windshields of the vehicles with stones, emCNN-IBN/em reported. [caption id=attachment_582036 align=alignleft width=380 Akbaruddin Owaisi, who has been rem
strongHyderabad:/strong An Andhra Pradesh court today extended MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi's judicial custody till 5 February in a hate speech case. As the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) legislator's 14-day custody was ending Tuesday, the police produced him in the munsif magistrate's court in Nirmal, about 200 km from here. The court extended his judicial remand by another two weeks. [caption id=attachment_597592 align=alignleft width=380 strongHyderabad:/strong An Andhra P
Muslim supporters of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Akbaruddin Owaisi throw stones at Indian policemen after Friday prayers at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, India, Friday, Jan. 11, 2013. Tension prevailed in the old city of Hyderabad Friday after violent protests by a group of people protesting against Owaisi's arrest for his alleged hate speech. Muslim supporters of Majlis-e-Itteh