Congress questions Owaisi's silence on Mecca Masjid blast verdict

Hyderabad: Supporting MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi's demand seeking appeal against Swami Aseemanand's acquittal in Samjhauta blast case, the Congress party asked as to why he was not making a similar demand for appeal against NIA Court's verdict in Mecca Masjid blast case.

Hyderabad City Congress Committee (HCCC) Minorities Department Chairman Waliullah Sameer said both BJP Government at the Centre and TRS Government in Telangana State has adopted a communal and biased approach on issues concerning minorities. He said both BJP and TRS were trying to defend Aseemanand and other RSS functionaries who were allegedly involved and later acquitted in blasts in Samjhauta Express on February 18, 2007 and historic Mecca Masjid on May 18, 2007. Nine people were killed and 58 were injured in Mecca Masjid blast. Five youth were also killed in police firing outside the Mecca Masjid. He said that the NIA had acquitted all accused in Mecca Masjid blast case in April 2018. However, the TRS Government did not file appeal against the verdict nor it communicated with the Centre even once to make NIA file appeal in a higher court, he said in a media statement on Saturday.

"Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao or any other TRS leader did not speak on acquittals in cases of terrorism where some RSS functionaries were accused. Asaduddin Owaisi is trying to gain some publicity targeting Modi Government, he has adopted a strategic silence against the TRS on the same issues. While Congress party has waged a full-fledged battle against communal forces, MIM is shielding TRS, which is undoubtedly an agent of RSS and BJP," Sameer said while adding that the MIM president must stop misleading the Muslims. He said that the top TRS leaders must spell out their stand on Mecca Masjid blast verdict if they were truly secular.

Sameer also questioned Asaduddin Owaisi's silence on Alair encounter in which five Muslim youth were killed by police on April 7, 2015. A week after the incident, the State Government had constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe into the incident. However, he said even after four years, the SIT was yet to submit its reports. "Why Asaduddin Owaisi, who is an ally of TRS, did not pressure CM KCR for SIT report and action against the cops, if they were guilty? His silence, so far, clearly shows that he would not speak anything that hurts the interest of ruling party," he said.

"Asaduddin Owaisi gives statements on national and even international issues on daily basis to draw media attention and drive political mileage. But he is afraid of speaking truth when it comes to TRS or his other friends. He never questioned TRS Government for its silence on Mecca Masjid blast verdict, Alair encounter or even non-release of allocated funds for minorities. MIM leaders are wrongly creating an illusion that TRS was a secular party although KCR has exhibited his friendship with Prime Minister Narender Modi on multiple occasions," Sameer said.