Delhi Police suffering from "both sideism", "balance-waad": Owaisi

Hyderabad: After an FIR was filed against him for alleged posting/sharing inciting social media posts, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on Thursday that Delhi Police is suffering from "both sideism" and "balance-waad". Saying that he could not be intimidated by such moves, he added that he would consult his advocates and address the issue, PTI reported.

Earlier on Thursday, Delhi Police had lodged FIRs against former BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand and Owaisi for "messages on social media against the maintenance of public tranquillity and inciting people on divisive lines".

In a series of tweets, Owaisi said, As for the FIR against me, we will consult our lawyers & address it as and when required. We will not be intimidated by these tactics. Criticising hate speech and giving hate speeches cannot be equated."

He said, "Delhi Police is suffering from "both sides" or "balance-waad" syndromes. One side has openly insulted our Prophet while the other side has been named to assuage BJP supporters & make it look like there was the hate speech on both sides."

He alleged that the inciting speeches delivered by BJP spokespersons and "Dharam Gurus", who have close ties with the party, were being equated to his random posts with no political or social standing. "In my case, FIR isn't even saying WHAT was offensive," he stated, adding that the police have not mentioned the crime he committed.

He went on alleging, "Yati, 'Genocidal Sansad gang', Nupur, Naveen and others had become used to there being no consequences while weak action was only taken when there was the outrage for weeks or international condemnation or when courts pulled up the police."

He stated that Muslim students, journalists, and activists had been put in prison for the crime of merely belonging to the Islamic faith, while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Hindutva Organisations have a culture of rewarding hate speech and extremism with promotions. He also submitted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hate speeches were also rewarded.

"If Modi were sincere, he would have stamped out hate speech without indulging in fake balance-waad. Let genocidal hate speakers be put in prison under non-bailable draconian laws rather than getting promotions," he tweeted.