Newsmatro
Navneet Rana, the BJP’s candidate for the Amravati Lok Sabha seat, ignited a heated exchange of words by targeting Akbaruddin Owaisi and his brother Asaduddin Owaisi during her campaign in Hyderabad.
She took a jab at the Owaisi siblings, suggesting that if police were absent from duty for just 15 seconds, the brothers wouldn’t be able to track their whereabouts.
Rana’s comment harked back to a contentious statement made by Akbaruddin Owaisi in 2013. At that time, Owaisi had sparked controversy by suggesting that if the police were withdrawn for 15 minutes, Muslims could purportedly “finish 100 crore Hindus.”
Speaking while campaigning for BJP’s Hyderabad candidate Madhavi Latha, Rana seized the opportunity to hit back at the Owaisi brothers.
She emphasized that while Akbaruddin Owaisi had proposed 15 minutes without police presence, it would take just 15 seconds for them to lose track if the police were removed momentarily.
Rana’s fiery remarks sought to counter the Owaisis’ perceived bravado with a swift retort.
In response to Rana’s barbed comments, Asaduddin Owaisi, the AIMIM chief and incumbent MP from Hyderabad, asserted that he welcomed the challenge, even extending the time frame to an hour.
This witty rejoinder from Owaisi hinted at the Owaisi camp’s confidence and readiness to face any perceived threat.
AIMIM leader Waris Pathan condemned Rana’s statement, viewing it as a sign of desperation from her camp.
He called for stern action from the Election Commission and law enforcement, alleging that Rana’s remarks were aimed at inciting communal tensions.
Echoing similar sentiments, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan criticized the BJP for allegedly stoking animosity in society.
He accused the BJP of poisoning public discourse and fostering division for political gain, highlighting a broader concern about the rhetoric employed during election campaigns.