Inaction against hate speeches by TS police brewing communal hatred: Congress

Hyderabad: The Congress party alleged that lack of action by Telangana Police in the cases of hate speeches against BJP and MIM leaders was brewing an atmosphere of communal hatred across Telangana.

Hyderabad City Congress Committee (HCCC) Minorities Department Chairman Sameer Waliullah said that the police have registered cases against Telangana BJP President Bandi Sanjay and MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi on November 28 for the hate speeches they allegedly delivered during the campaign for GHMC elections. "Telangana Police are adopting a very casual approach in dealing with cases of hate speeches. Since no action is being taken against those delivered hate speeches, political leaders are literally not afraid of such cases any more. Consequently, BJP and MIM leaders are using them as a tool to main electoral gains," he said in a media statement on Wednesday.

Sameer Waliullah demanded that the TRS Government issue a White Paper on the status of action taken in the cases related to hate speeches. "A BJP leader has built his entire political career by giving hate speeches against a particular community. Similarly, one MIM leader never faced action despite having dozens of cases of hate speeches. Since Telangana Police are not taking any serious action in such cases, including those having a potential of inciting communal riots, the BJP and MIM leaders are fearlessly using hate speeches as a tool for their political survival and growth," he said.

The Congress leader said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao should allow the Telangana Police officials to act as per the law. However, he said that the police officials were allegedly being pressurised in hate speeches cases. He also condemned discriminatory attitude of State Police in registration of cases. He pointed out that a bridegroom and his brother in Hyderabad were promptly booked under Arms Act when a video of them dancing with knives and a toy pistol went viral on social media. But the police took no action when a video of BJP workers dancing with swords on a main road in Jagtial surfaced. "This discriminatory attitude by Telangana Police will only encourage communalism, hatred and violence. This must be stopped immediately," he demanded.