Owaisi denied permission to hold rally in Azamgarh

Govt. fears ‘communal tension’

Asaduddin Owaisi.

The Samajwadi Party government has denied permission to the All India Maljis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen chief and Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, to hold a rally in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday.

While the district administration did not respond to The Hindu’s phone calls, it is said the permission was denied citing the fear that the rally would create communal tension.

Prohibitory orders

The prohibitory Section 144 has been imposed to prevent unlawful assembly. Mr. Owaisi said the administration did not specify any reason for denying permission. The refusal “exposed” the SP’s disregard for freedom of expression, he alleged.

“We had applied [for permission] a month ago. The administration denies permission and says it has orders from above. Mulayam Singh, who is aspiring to be PM, does not tolerate dissent. It shows that he considers Uttar Pradesh his fiefdom,” Mr. Owaisi told

The Hindu . He said he would challenge the ban in the High Court.