Will bulldozers be used on homes of Agnipath protestors? Owaisi wants to know

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi lashed out at the Centre on Saturday (June 18) asking if the homes of the protestors against the Centre’s Agnipath scheme will also be razed by bulldozers. Pointing out that the young people were on the streets due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s wrong decisions, he urged the government not to demolish anyone’s home.

After the government announced the new Agnipath recruitment plan for the Indian armed forces, the country has been rocked by protests in several parts of the country. The protestors are demanding permanent recruitment under the regular process as well as pension and other retirement benefits, which is not part of the Agnipath scheme.

Addressing a gathering in Hyderabad, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief said that youngsters were now on the streets due to Modi’s wrong decisions. And went on to ask, “How many protesters’ homes will be razed by bulldozers? We don’t want you to demolish anyone’s home.” Further, he quoted Varanasi police commissioner A Satish Ganesh, who had said that those who were protesting the Agnipath plan were “our children” and that the administration will explain the nature of the scheme to them.

Also read: Protests erupt outside Jama Masjid demanding Nupur Sharmas arrest

Owaisi then asked the police commissioner, “Are Muslims not your children? …We too are the children of this country.” “You talk to us, you should have spoken to us last Friday,” pointed out Owaisi. He was referring to the protests that had broken out across the country after the Friday prayers on June 10, over Nupur Sharma’s remarks against the Prophet

Owaisi also raised the case of the demolition of the home of political activist Javed Mohammed, who is the main accused in the violence in Prayagraj protests. And, also happens to be the father of JNU student leader Afreen Fatima. The Prayagraj Development Authority claimed it had given Mohammed a notice on May 10 about his illegal construction. However, Mohammed’s family denied receiving any communication.

He said that Afreen Fatima’s home was demolished because her father had taken part in a demonstration. “Principle of natural justice is the part of the Constitution’s basic framework. The court can punish him, not his wife and daughter. Is this your justice?” he asked.

Earlier too, after the UP government had launched a bulldozer drive against the protestors, Owaisi had expressed his solidarity with Afreen Fatima, and asked in a Twitter post, “What happened to Modi’s & Yogi’s sympathy for Muslim women?”

Arrest Nupur Sharma, says Owaisi

Also, Owaisi felt that Nupur Sharma, who was suspended by the party over her remarks on the Prophet, may very well become a “big leader” and may even be nominated as the party’s Delhi chief minister candidate.

Also read: Eminent jurists write to SC to take action on ‘clampdown of fundamental rights in UP’

Owaisi demanded the arrest of Nupur Sharma and action to be taken against her according to the law of India. “We wanted action as per the Constitution. I know that Nupur Sharma will be made big leader in the coming six-seven months. It is also possible that Nupur Sharma will be made the Delhi CM candidate,” he said, adding that this is the reality of our nation.

“The more you abuse Muslims, the higher post you will find,” he said.

Also read: SC says demolitions can’t be ‘retaliatory’, gives 3 days for UP govt to respond