I don't like people with arms around me, I'm a free bird, want to live freely, Owaisi said.
Highlights
- AIMIM chief Owaisi rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah's appeal to accept 'Z' category security.
- I want to tell him that value of my life is not more than 22 ppl who died during CAA protest: Owaisi
- Amit Shah said Owaisi had no prescheduled event in Hapur where two men had fired shots on his car.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah's appeal to accept 'Z' category security, saying that he is a free bird, and want to live freely.
The Hyderabad MP said, "Today in the parliament, HM Amit Shah asked me to accept Z category security. I want to say to him that value of my life is not more than 22 people who died during CAA protest. I don't like people with arms around me, I'm a free bird, want to live freely."
Earlier in the Parliament, Home Minister Amit Shah requested the Muslim leader to accept Z category protection, offered by the government after a recent attack on his car, saying he still faces a security threat. Making a statement in Rajya Sabha, Shah said the Hyderabad MP has refused to take the CRPF protection.
The minister said that Owaisi had been offered security in the past too and a government assessment has found that he still faces security threat.
"We have reassessed the security of Owaisi. We have provided him in Delhi a bullet-proof car under all India level Z category security of Central Reserve Police Force on the basis of assessment,'' he said.
"As per the verbal information sent by Owaisi to us, he has refused to take security. I request Shri Owaisi through this House to take the security immediately and address our concern (about his safety)," Shah said in the Upper House. He also told the House that the Ministry of Home Affairs has received a report from the state government on the attack.
"The central government has issued directions to provide security to Owaisi many times earlier also. Telangana Police and Delhi Police remained unsuccessful in providing security to Owaisi due to his unwillingness for that," the minister said.
Shots were fired at the car of the president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), on February 3, 2022 in Uttar Pradesh following which two persons were arrested and arms were also recovered. Owaisi had reached Delhi safely after the incident.
Shah informed the House that the AIMIM leader did not have a scheduled programme in Hapur and no prior information was sent regarding his visit to the district control room.
"Local police inspected the site of the incident and arrested two accused and also recovered two pistols and an Alto car. "A forensic team is investigating the site of the incident and the (recovered) vehicles. Evidence is being collected. "Uttar Pradesh Police is also interrogating the two accused. The law and order situation is normal in the district. They are on high alert," Shah also stated.
(with inputs from PTI)
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