Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Asaduddin Owaisi.

Delhi:

Asaduddin Owaisi for waging war and promoting enmity among religious groups among other sections in connection with an alleged hate speech he had delivered last year.

The FIR was registered yesterday at the Farsh Bazar Police Station in East Delhi after a local court here had directed the Delhi Police on February 18 to lodge a criminal case against Owaisi under relevant provisions of the IPC on a private complaint.

We have registered an FIR under IPC sections of120 B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging waragainst India), 153(A) (promoting enmity between different groups), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) in addition with section 66A, 66F and 67 of the Information and Technology Act following a court order," saidFurther investigations are underway, he added.

The court had passed the order on the complaint of Ajay Gautam, social worker and a priest, seeking lodging of an FIR against Owaisi for his alleged hate speech in June last year. 

The complainant said that on June 5, 2014, he hadread an article in the online edition of a newspaper in which Owaisi had allegedly delivered a speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He said he had found it was not the first time thatthe leader had delivered "hate speech and created terror and fear".

Akbaruddin Owaisi to lay foundation stones of school, hospital in Malegaon

Malegaon: 

In order to keep the promise he had made in the run up to the Maharashtra assembly elections, senior All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslemeen (MIM) and Telangana legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi will be visiting Malegaon Friday to lay the foundation stones of a school and hospital.

Owaisi junior is also slated to address a public rally on the massive Azeez Kallu Stadium ground in the evening on Friday, sources at Darus-Salam, the MIM office in Malegaon said.

"Akbaruddin Owaisi will arrive in Malegaon in the morning on Friday. After Friday prayers, he will lay the foundation stone of a school and hospital to be constructed on a 02 acre land in Bagh-e-Mehmood area of the city", the MIM Malegaon office said while talking to media.

"In the evening on the same day, Akbaruddin Owaisi will address a public rally to be organised on the Azeez Kallu Stadium cricket ground", he added.

Owaisi during his maiden visit to Malegaon while campaigning for the MIM candidate had promised to build a school and hospital in the city - irrespective of the election result.

"The MIM candidate from here wins the election or not that is a different matter. I have seen here people dying for sanitation facilities and for proper schooling. I promise to build a school and hospital in the city for the people of Malegaon", he said.

Meanwhile, ahead of his visit to Malegon, the MIM Malegaon has put up huge banners and posters in the entire city to greet Akbaruddin Owaisi, who is known for fiery speeches.

#Video: Yesterday`s Video Of ‪#‎Asaduddin‬ ‪#‎Owaisi‬ in #Parliament.

Full Video: Aimim Floor Leader Janab Akbaruddin Owaisi Latest Speech at Musheerabad.

AIMIM Protesting against Traffic Police for Evicting Footpath Vendors.

Hyderabad:
AIMIM Gen Sec & Charminar MLA Janab Syed Ahmed Pasha Qadri Agitated on Charminar Road Against GHMC, Civic body has taken action against hawkers, Zonal Commissioner South Zone Bala Subramanyam Reddy talking to Mr Quadri.

150 Muslim families leave homes

A locked gate at the house of a Muslim resident that was abandoned in UP’s Kushinagar district.

Lucknow:

Tension prevailed in Madhopur village in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district after 150 Muslim families reportedly left their homes Monday, fearing a backlash from BJP MP Yogi Adityanath’s outfit Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) over a land dispute. Heavy police force including PAC personnel have been deployed in the village to prevent any disturbance.

Kushinagar additional district magistrate Ram Kewal Tiwari admitted that there is tension in the village. “It is a property dispute. There was a minor clash and we deployed PAC. HYV is active in this region and they often hold meetings, but we handle the situation,” Tiwari claimed. He, however, denied that Muslims have left the village.

HYV held a meeting at Madhopur on Monday to show solidarity with the village’s Hindus following a property dispute. The outfit has reportedly given call for a Hindu mahapanchayat on March 3 if its demand of handing over possession of a 1.5-acre disputed plot to a Hindu villager is not met.

“We had gone there to show solidarity with our worker Digvijay Kishore Shahi who was assaulted by a Muslim when he resisted their move to grab his land. Since the Muslims have done wrong, they have fled. We are not responsible,” Sunil Singh, state president of HYV said.

He added: “Digvijay owns that land. The district administration admitted it but refused to hand him the possession before Holi claiming that communal atmosphere will be vitiated. We cannot wait for that long. On March 3, we will hold a Hindu mahapanchayat”.

Locals said the issue erupted following a land dispute between Digvijay Kishore Shahi and another villager Ameen. The 1.5 acre plot belonging to the gram panchayat is close to the village and both groups are staking claim to it.

On February 13, a clash broke out between the two groups. Muslims claimed that nearly 1,000 HYV workers attacked them. The district administration deployed PAC and a case was registered on Shahi’s complaint. Two Muslim men were arrested.

“We continued to stay in our village after the incident. But, HYV announced a big meeting on February 23. We sought help of local administration but no one came forward,” Aurangzeb (22) said.

Social worker Mohammad Anwar Siddiqui said: “Police told villagers told to leave the village before the HYV.”

Aurangzeb said Muslims left the village on February 22 to avoid confrontations. He added that the HYV meeting was attended by nearly 1,500 workers, including state president Sunil Singh. Provocative speeches were delivered during the meeting.The Muslims are yet to return home, he claimed.

Congress wooing back MIM

HYDERABAD: 

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi's (TRS) overtures towards BJP has left other parties to work on new alliances with the GHMC elections expected to be held sometime soon.
The MIM, seen to be a close ally of TRS, is now weighing options including joining hands with its old alliance partner, Congress. According to sources, Congress party's Greater Hyderabad president Danam Nagender was already in touch with MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi.

The MIM leaders, however, said as a principle, their party would have no pre-poll alliance with any party and they were watching the developments in view of the ensuing GHMC elections. "The speculations are rife, but we are in a wait-and-watch mode," said senior MIM leader and MLC Syed Amin Jafri. While declining to confirm the Congress leaders' discussions with Owaisi, Jafri said this was not the right time to talk about political equations.

Congress leaders said his party saw an advantage for it with reports of TRS-BJP tieup. The development would help in consolidation of minority votes in Congress' favour and the combination of Congress and MIM would be formidable as it had won the last GHMC polls. "The minority votes, which form over 40 per cent, play a key role in the GHMC elections. It would be an interesting proposition if the TRS really joins hands with the BJP ," said the Congress leader, adding, "the MIM must make up its mind now and help us to keep the TRS at bay."

Former Congress MLA from Sanathnagar said the TRS had shown its true colours and the development has only exposed how opportunistic that the ruling party could be. "The minorities will now know the Congress is the only party that can stand for them.While the TDP is already into the alliance with the BJP , TRS showed its intent to join hands with the communal forces. The Congress will never compromise with its secular credentials," said Shashidhar Reddy , who is likely to seek re-election from Sanathnagar as the incumbent MLA from TDP Talasani Srinivas Yadav resigned before CM K Chandrasekhar Rao inducted him into his cabinet last year.

On possible alliance with the MIM, Shashidhar Said, "Now that is it is clear who is for secular values and who is not. It is up to the MIM to take the call and chose its ally."

AIMIM: Seeks Tax Waiver for 11.5L House Owners

HYDERABAD: 

The AIMIM has urged GHMC special officer Somesh Kumar to provide relief to 11.5 lakh poor and middle class house owners through waiver of property tax up to Rs 5,000 per annum by incorporating this proposal in the budget for 2015-16.

Former mayor M Majid Hussain along with MLC Syed Amin-ul-Hasan Jafri submitted a representation to the GHMC special officer stating that the Standing Committee, in its meeting held in November last year had passed an unanimous resolution for waiver of property tax for those paying tax in the bracket of Rs 1 to Rs 4,000 for residential premises.

The Standing Committee had tentatively noted that 10 lakh house owners would get relief to the extent of Rs 100 to Rs 120 crore. For 11.5 lakh properties, the revenue loss would be Rs 250 crore.The schemes and initiatives envisaged in last year’s budget included construction of 24 function halls for poor, 1,000 public toilets, green Hyderabad plan to develop more colony and city-level parks besides an amusement park at Kishanbagh, comprehensive development plan for Mir Alam Tank, protection of other lakes and open spaces etc needs to be implemented.The previous body proposed comprehensive road development, expeditious completion of flyovers and underbridges, junction improvements, development of peripheral roads, construction of new circle offices, heritage tourism corridor and Gateway of Hyderabad project for beautification of 14 entry points leading to the city has to be implemented.Under community organisation schemes, elected body had envisaged to launch subsidised food scheme, training programmes for the unemployed youth and women and installation of 400 Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants for provision of safe drinking water to the slums and poor localities.However, barring the opening of some food centres, there has been no progress on other schemes.

MIM’s legislature Akbaruddin Owaisi addressed a well attended public meeting at Borabanda.

MIM leaders prefer to wait and watch.

Hyderabad:  

MIM is keeping a close watch on ally TRS, especially after speculation that the party is likely to join the Modi government. MIM had a cosy relationship with TRS in the 2014 general elections and subsequently, though it differed with it on the regularisation of illegal occupation of government lands for a price. 

Since there is no official word from the Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao on the BJP tie-up issue, MIM leaders prefer to wait and watch. “We don’t know whether KCR will join the NDA government or not. We can’t jump to a conclusion based on media reports. We are watching the developments,” a senior MIM leader said. For the moment, TRS and MIM are friends, though the relation is coming under strain for various reasons, especially reports of TRS’ possible alliance with the BJP at the Centre, TRS’ membership drive in the Old City and regularisation of lands for a price among others.

However, the CM adhered to the MIM’s request of realignment of Metro Rail. Interestingly, while all parties condemned the TS government for shifting the Secretariat, MIM did not. Moreover, Mr Rao and MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi have maintained a cordial political relationship till now. But excise minister and city strongman, T. Padma Rao said all is well with the MIM. “We are allies and our friendship continues. There are no differences with MIM as is being rumoured.

Our aim is to win the GHMC elections. There is massive response for TRS’ membership drive in the city and other parts of the state,” he said. A TRS MP said the government’s aim is to have a good relationship with the Centre and that does not mean it has planned to join NDA. TRS and MIM are gearing up for the GHMC polls which will be held after delimitation of the divisions.  The BJP has announced that it will continue to have an alliance with TD in the GHMC polls.

Aimim Floor Leader Janab Akbaruddin Owaisi Sahab addressing Jalsa @ Bora...

Asaduddin Owaisi: takes to 'Gandhigiri' to protest ban in Bangaluru

HYDERABAD:

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday resorted to "Gandhigiri" to protest denial of permission to address a public meeting in Bangaluru.
Owaisi insisted additional police commissioner Noorullah Shareef to accept flowers much to the amusement of onlookers as he came to his office to serve the notice barring his entry into Bangaluru from February 19-25.

The notice cited court cases against Owaisi and the content of his speeches to bar his entry in the run up to the Bengaluru civic polls for which the MIM plans to field its candidates.
The officer seemed baffled at the unusual gesture and repeatedly said he cannot accept the flowers as a government servant. "I am offering you flowers.
I am not garlanding you," said Owaisi. When Shareef declined, Owaisi asked him to pass on the flowers to his superiors on whose orders the notice was being served.
A video of the exchange was posted on Owaisi's Facebook page and had over 50,000 views by Thursday evening.
The Bangaluru police had first granted and then revoked permission for Owaisi's public meeting on February 8.
The MIM moved the Karnataka high court against the permission withdrawal.
The police informed the party that permission would be accorded if an application was filed with the DCP (east), which resulted in the notice on Thursday.
"The notice has pained me as an Indian, who can speak in the Parliament but not in Bengaluru. I have cases against me and I am innocent until proven guilty," said Owaisi. "I am sure that the courts will do justice to me.As a citizen of India, I accept your notice but reject its contentions."

Asaduddin Owaisi: MIM chief banned from entering Bengaluru

Bengaluru:

City Police Commissioner has imposed prohibitory orders banning Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen President Asaduddin Owaisi from entering the city a week from today, days before his party was to hold a public meeting.

In his order, Commissioner M N Reddi has also prohibited him from participating or speaking at any public meeting or function directly or through audio-visual or any other media in the city.

Reddi said he has banned Owaisi by using the powers vested on him under section 144(3) CrPC.

Owaisi, who in the past has been accused of making hate speeches, said he would challenge the ban in court.

AIMIM had rescheduled its public meeting at Chota Maidan here on February 21 which was to be addressed by Owaisi and other leaders of the Hyderabad-based party.

Earlier, the Bengaluru Police had allowed the party to hold the rally on February 8 but later withdrew the permission.

AIMIM had challenged this in the Karnataka High Court.

Subsequently, the Bengaluru Police told the court they would allow the AIMIM meeting if the party made an application to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Division).

Thereafter, the AIMIM approached the DCP (East Division) for permission for the February 21 meeting.

However, a police team today visited AIMIM headquarters at Darussalam here and served the notice to the 45-year-old politician, issued on behalf of Reddi.

Earlier this month, the police had imposed a similar ban on VHP leader Praveen Togadia on grounds that his "provocative" and "inflammatory" speeches would have "grave" consequences and therefore, likelihood of breach of peace.

Defying multimedia gag by police, Togadia's video recorded speech was played at a rally in the city on February 8 in which he called for "Ghar Wapsi" and establishment of "Constitutional Hindu Nation".

Happy Quaid Day to all

AIMIM Bangalore press meet on AIMIM Supremo Public meeting.

Mr. PM slips his tongue.

Why Cartoons of Prophet Sallallahualaihiwasallam should never be allowed

‎Asaduddin‬ ‪#‎Owaisi‬ sahab Giving ‪#‎Flowers‬ to ‪#‎BENGALURU‬ ‪#‎Police‬

Asaduddin Owaisi: slams Digvijaya Singh for calling AAP an RSS product.

Owaisi said that his party, which won two Assembly seats in Maharashtra was also labelled as being in cahoots with the BJP. 

NEW DELHI: 
Hyderabad MP and leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi has slammed senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's statement terming Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal as an RSS product, calling it reflective of a "feudal" mindset. 

"Just because the voter has rejected you does not mean you demean their choices. This is a typical feudal mind set, where if you don't vote for their choice you are termed an RSS agent," he said."There is an old hindi saying naach na jaaney aangan tedha (a bad workman blames his tools)," he added. Speaking to ET on the Delhi polls and its implications on the national scene, Owaisi said that his party, which won two Assembly seats in Maharashtra in its maiden outing there was also labelled as being in cahoots with the BJP because their presence led to the splitting of the non-BJP vote. 

"Congress should understand that other options are available now," he said. He added that Kejriwal's victory, and his success in appropriating the Congress' vote bank is a signal to other parties who count on anti-BJP or even minority votes that it is time to "get out of your comfort zone." 

"The Samajwadi Party (SP) for example, who set themselves up like some 'choudharies' of minority votes have leaders like Azam Khan who are offering to build a temple in the name of Mulayam Singh Yadav. These people should get out of their comfort zones of minority politics revolving around iftaar parties, chadar for Ajmer Dargah or phoolwalon ki sair etc. When you talk of the aspirational Indian voter, why separate the Muslims? Why only talk of physical safety for them and no development?" he added. "The Left kept saying that they were secular, but the Sachar committee reports revealed showed the low levels of development of the community in West Bengal. The Muslims then threw in their lot with Mamta Banerjee," he added. 

Owaisi, who has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker for permission to adopt a village in Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana confirmed that his party, while having avoided the Delhi polls, would be looking at other state elections to expand. "The Delhi polls demonstrated that people had more trust in a new party than either the BJP or the Congress," he said.

MIM changing Maharashtra politics.

The vote-bank politics in Maharashtra is changing. While the emergence of the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in the state is ensuring the unity of the reluctant ruling partners, the BJP and the Shiv Sena, the Asaduddin Owaisi-led party has weakened the Congress’ support base among minorities in the state.

On the other hand, the NCP too has not been able to gain ground among minorities. The votes of dalits and Marathas are also splitting due to a number of factors in the past few years.The BJP’s strategy is to check its post-poll ally Shiv Sena from regaining the number one position. That is the reason why chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is not giving a free hand to the Shiv Sena ministers in Maharashtra, according to reports coming from Mumbai.The BJP appears to be keen on playing the separate Vidarbha card and keep non-Marathi-speaking people in Mumbai in good humour. This strategy will weaken the Shiv Sena further as its aggressive Hindutva would have no takers in Mumbai and Vidarbha.The Shiv Sena cannot afford to go alone in the coming BMC and local body polls due to multi-cornered contests, but its aggressive Hindutva line would help the BJP in Marathawada and parts of western Maharashtra, north Maharashtra and Varhad as well.Therefore, the emergence of All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen may not only keep the saffron parties together, but would help the BJP keep the Shiv Sena in check.The process of dilution of the BJP’s political untouchability had begun since 1978 when its earlier avatar, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, had joined the Sharad Pawar-led PDF government.Now Marathas, the all-powerful community in the state, have been voting for the Congress, NCP, BJP and the Shiv Sena as well. Though their first preference is the Congress and the NCP, the Shiv Sena had also made Narayan Rane, a Maratha, the chief minister of the state after Manohar Joshi.While dalit and OBC votes too have been split due to the changing politics in Maharashtra, minorities appear to be in a double mind whether to remain with the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen or vote for anti-BJP-Shiv Sena parties.

I strongly condemn the attack on Imambargah in ‪Peshawar‬: Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri

Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri:
I strongly condemn the attack on Imambargah in ‪#‎Peshawar‬. Delaying tactics of govt. are providing breathing space for terrorists.

Bazm-e-Ittehad Jeddah: Mushaira in Jeddah on Feb. 20

Jeddah:
The Bazm-e-Ittehad Jeddah (BIJ), a social welfare organization, is conducting its fourth annual "Mushaira Bayaad Salar-e-Millat 2015" in memory of the late Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, on Friday, Feb. 20 in Jeddah.Bazm-e-Ittehad Saudi Arabia President Ahmeduddin Owaisi will presided over the grand poetry event.Imtiaz Jaleel, the newly elected member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Aurangabad, and Waris Pathan, MLA from Byculla, Mumbai, both belonging to the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), are the special invitees.
The reception committee of Bazm-e-Ittehad Jeddah includes Dr. Syed Ali Mahmood, Hasan Bayazid Ather, Mohammed Ubaidur Rahman, Mirza Mazhar Ali Baig, Mohammed Yousufuddin Amjad, Mohammed Abdul Qayum, Asrar Ahmed Siddiqui and Syed Khaja Viqaruddin.India’s visiting poets include Rabab Rashidi, Agha Sarrosh, Naeem Akhter Burhanpuri, Anjum Barabankvi, Shafeeq Abidi, Mohammed Ali Wafa, Waheed Pasha Qadri and Syed Alamdar Rizvi.Shafeeq Abidi will compere the mushaira.Invitation cards will be issued on first-come-first-served basis at Shadab Restaurant in Aziziah district on Monday between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Separate seats have been arranged for women.
For details, contact mushaira convener Hasan Bayazid Ather.

AIMIM’s debut rally in UP: Hits out at Akhilesh over riots

Uttar Pradesh:
Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which is preparing ground for its grand entry into Uttar Pradesh politics, on Thursday held its maiden rally in the state in Maharajganj, and in a bid to carve out a support base among Muslims, said Muzaffarnagar riots would not have occurred if the party had a considerable presence in the region.

AIMIM leaders hailed Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi as the “lion of Islam”, while termed UP’s Muslim MLAs as slaves. “If we had a presence in Uttar Pradesh, Muzaffarnagar riots would not have occurred. Even Babri Masjid would not have been demolished. Our leader Asaduddin is ‘lion of Islam’ and his brother Akbaruddin has the courage to see the government eye to eye,” said Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri, party’s MLA from Hyderabad, during the rally. The rally was held at Muslim-dominated Partawal on Paniyara road in Maharajganj district. The area also has a strong presence of activists belonging to Hindu Yuva Vahini, which has support from BJP’s Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath.

After much deliberations, the local administration had given permission for only four hours — 12 noon to 4 pm — to AIMIM for holding the public meeting. There was a satisfactory turnout at the rally and around 4,000 youths attended it. Many of them claimed that numbers would have been more if police had not imposed restrictions by stopping the vehicles with AIMIM flags.

Sounding a warning to the Akhilesh Yadav government, Pasha said: “Rulers of UP, your future will be ruined. Whole world will see. If you had not tortured our brothers, Majlis would not have come here.”
He also pitched for giving a push to Urdu, saying the language was dying in the state. “No Muslim MLA has not raised the issue. I demand from the government that all offices should have boards in Urdu language,” he said.

Former mayor of Hyderabad Majid Hussain too stepped up the rhetoric, claiming Muslims were the “second-class citizens in UP” and all Muslim legislators were “slaves of their masters”.
He also challenged the UP government saying: “You keep on heaping problems on us and now we are here to solve them.”

Another AIMIM leader from Hyderabad, Syed Khizar Pasha, however, spoke about the political ideas of his party and said AIMIM would “embrace” backwards classes and Muslims in the state. “We are the voice of Muslims in UP. If you want respect for your mothers and sisters then join us. It is your (government) job to torture us and it is our task to oppose it,” he said.

AIMIM workers from adjoining districts – Azamgarh, Faizabad and Gorakhpur – and office bearers from Lucknow had reached there to attend the meeting.
AIMIM office bearers informed that the leaders from Hyderabad who had reached UP would submit their reports to party chief Asaduddin Owaisi. Owaisi’s.

MIM: claims 1 lakh members in UP

LUCKNOW:
Preparing ground for a grand entry into Uttar Pradesh politics, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) claimed on Wednesday it had enrolled more than 1 lakh members to the UP unit of the Hyderabad-based party.


Kickstarting their online membership drive on Wednesday, AIMIM's Charminar MLA Ahmed Pasha Quadri said the party was making inroads into UP at the behest of scores of Muslims and Dalits who were feeling cheated by the ruling Samajwadi Party. Lucknow convenor of AIMIM, Shaukat Ali said the party had already enlisted the support of people in 49 districts, with booth level committees already functional in nearly 15 districts of the state.


Claiming the Samajwadi Party was afraid of MIM's entry into UP—which led to the Azamgarh district administration denying permission to MIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi's rallies—Ali also said MIM workers were being subjected to undue harassment by the state government. "Our focus is on integrating Muslims and Dalits in the state and to solve their basic problems, including their need and demand for reservation in education. We have a right to do this work in UP as well," Quadri said.

MIM leaders also said Owaisi has commissioned a study of the prevailing conditions in UP and is likely to use this information as a launch pad for MIM's entry into UP. Office-bearers also said the party may contest the 2017 assembly elections in UP.

Telangana CM Sri.Chandrasekhar Rao congratulates Mr.Arvind Kejriwal.

Hyderabad:
Telangana CM Sri.Chandrasekhar Rao congratulates Mr.Arvind Kejriwal on the fantastic victory.

Akbaruddin Owaisi yesterday after opening a party office in Mumbai.

Akbaruddin Owaisi Rally to be Held in March.

Maharashtra:

AIMIM has postponed its rally until next month after the police asked the party to conduct their Saturday's public meeting, which was to be addressed by its leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, indoors.

"We don't want to have any confrontation with the police. Hence we have opted to hold the meeting in the first week of March. If we had insisted on going ahead with our demand for permission to hold meeting in the open, it would have unnecessarily created tension," said

MIM legislator Waris Pathan. After some Sainiks protested against his Pune rally recently, Owaisi had challenged the Sena to stop him from holding the Mumbai meet. Owaisi was to address a rally at Nagpada junction on Saturday, the same venue from where he had kicked off the Assembly poll campaign last year. The party had issued ads in Urdu dailies announcing a "grand welcome" to Owaisi.