MiM Members Stall Assembly Proceedings On POTA

MiM Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi addressing a Public Meeting in Hyderabad

Majlis members stall proceedings on application of POTA


HYDERABAD, JULY 5. Four MIM members --Akbaruddin Owaisi , Mohd. Muktada Khan, Ahmed Pasha Quadri and Mumtaz Ahmed Khan -- stalled the Assembly proceedings during zero hour for sometime insisting upon the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, giving an assurance on non-application of POTA against an alleged ISI agent, Anees Moiuddin, who is now in the custody of the city police. They rushed to the podium and wanted the minister to immediately respond.

The Speaker, Mr. Suresh Reddy, reprimanded the members for their behaviour and said they could not press the Government to act instantly on their demand. "You cannot pressure like this," he told them. He would not allow any deviation from the procedure, Mr. Reddy asserted.

The party floor leader, Akbaruddin Owaisi, who raised the issue, charged Mr. Jana Reddy with misleading the House, saying that POTA had not been applied in the case of Anees. Showing papers, he contended that it was in fact applied on June 28. Mr. Owaisi wanted the Government not to take the youth to Gujarat for conducting narco analysis test.

In his reply, Mr. Reddy assured that POTA won't be applied as permission had not been given for it. Since the investigation was on, he would consider whether POTA could be applied in the case or not. The Minister stated that the case was under his examination. He assured the MIM members that he would try to secure the release of the youth from police custody.

Contesting the Minister's contention, Mr. Owaisi alleged that the assurances given by Mr. Reddy at his four meetings with the MIM on the case had not been implemented. He said the party was demanding justice as Muslim minorities were being subjected to repression by the police.

Calm was restored after the Speaker agreed to discuss the issue in his chambers.