Hyderabad: Condemning the attack at the Mir Chowk police station on TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Leader of the Opposition Shabbir Ali in strong terms, Telangana Congress leaders on Tuesday demanded the immediate arrest of MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and his “goons”.
Addressing the media at the Gandhi Bhavan, Congress senior leaders K. Jana Reddy and Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said that the attack has exposed the failure of law and order and MIM’s ‘goonda raj’ in the Old City.
They alleged that Mr Owaisi himself led a group of about 200 ‘goons’ around the Old City on bikes.
The Congress leaders said that the group intercepted the convoy of the TPCC chief at Mir Chowk police station, which he was about to leave after securing the release of party candidate Mohd Ghouse.
They said the cops remained mute spectators when Mr Owaisi and his men attacked the Congress leaders.
Mr Shabbir Ali and Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy sustained minor injuries in the attack.
Accusing the MIM of rigging the election while unleashing a reign of terror, Mr Jana Reddy demanded re-polling in all the 44 divisions of the Old City.
He alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, home minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy, DGP Anurag Sharma and police commissioner Mahender Reddy were aware that the Congress leaders would be attacked, yet did not take any preventive measures and allowed MIM workers to roam around freely.
“Why did Asad come to Mir Chowk police station when no MIM workers or supporters were in custody there? MIM leaders were allowed to violate the model code since morning,” Mr Jana Reddy said.
Mr Vikramarka said despite several reminders to the State Election Commission and other authorities, no steps were taken to stop the MIM’s “rowdyism” in the Old City.
Claiming that Congress candidates Ghouse and Mohd. Irfan were illegally arrested, he said the party’s candidates in other divisions were not allowed to enter polling booths while the MIM was given a free hand to rig the polls.
Speaking to the media later, Mr Shabbir Ali said that the attack was a clear indication of the MIM leaders’ frustration over the party losing its base in the Old City and the fear of losing the polls.
He questioned why the police failed to notice the movement of Mr Owaisi and his “gang of over 200 goondas” though hundreds of CC cameras were installed.
