Bengaluru police on Monday again served notice on All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, denying him permission to hold a public meeting, and prohibiting his entry into the police commissionerate limits for five days between April 24 and 28.
The party had to reschedule its meeting at Chota Maidan in Bengaluru on April 25 which was to be addressed by Mr.Owaisi and other party leaders. Earlier, the party was granted permission to conduct a rally on February 21, but it was cancelled on February 19.
The Uttar Pradesh Government had also refused permission for the party to conduct a rally in Allahabad, which was rescheduled to April 26, despite a High Court direction to the District Magistrate. The party was permitted a rally on March 15 and in Agra on March 29, but it was cancelled by the administration citing the conduct of board examinations.
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Responding to the notice, Mr. Owaisi said he would challenge it in a court of law, since it sought to interfere with the right of ‘Freedom of Expression’ under Article 25 of the Constitution. He said he would continue to strive for the rights of minorities, weaker sections and backward classes. The notice he charged, was a convenient device to “stop my party from strengthening its base before the Bengaluru Municipal elections”.