MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi

Political temperature is set to rise in Pune next week. Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) will address a gathering in the city and talk about reservation for Muslims. Organisers claim the gathering is non-political but a Shiv Sena delegation rushed to Police Commissioner Satish Mathur and told him they “would not tolerate any anti-Hindu comment”. The Sena requested police to take action or else the party would prevent the rally on Muslim reservation if any anti-Hindu comment is made by Owaisi.

Anjum Inamdar, one of the organisers, said, “We invited AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and AAP as speakers at Muslim Arakshan Parishad, a public gathering demanding Muslim reservation, at Golibar Maidan on February 4. It is a non-political gathering. The Maharashtra Action Committee and Mulniwasi Muslim Manch are the organisers. People from Muslim as well as other communities are expected at the meeting. Justice B J Kolse Patil is a key speaker. “The organisers have invited leaders of Aam Admi Party, Republic Yuva Morcha and Chhava Yuva Sanghanta.”

Reacting to the Sena stand, Inamdar said, “Organisers have no intention of spreading any communal hatred through this programme. We are demanding reservation for Muslims. The State level campaign to demand Muslim reservation is on. It is a social issue. We have sought necessary permissions from police and government bodies for the function. We hope to get the approval soon.”

A Sena delegation headed by its newly appointed Pune city unit chief Vinayak Nimhan handed over a letter to the police commissioner on Saturday. Nimhan said, “Owaisi may speak something that could hurt the sentiment of Hindus. So we asked police to take necessary action. If there are any anti-Hindu remarks by Owaisi, we will not tolerate it. Shiv Sena will stall the gathering and organisers and speakers would be responsible.”

Joint commissioner of police Sanjay Kumar said all measures would be taken by police to maintain law and order in the city during the rally.

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