Owaisi slams Kishan Reddy's reported comments on terror in Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Jun 1: Hitting out at Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy for his reported comment that Hyderabad has become a safe zone for terrorists, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Saturday said such remarks will hurt the city's image.
Reddy assumed charge as minister of state for home in Delhi on Saturday.
"He (Reddy) did not even take charge of his post, but makes such... comments. I am asking him, and his ministry tell people of Hyderabad how many written advisories NIA, IB and RAW gave in the last five years that Hyderabad is becoming a den for terror," Owaisi told reporters.
It is lamentable that such comments are made although peace prevails in Hyderabad for the last five years, said the AIMIM chief, who is also the MP from Hyderabad.
Hyderabad is second only after Bengaluru in software exports in the country, Owaisi claimed.
Reddy could not be reached for comments.
The AIMIM president asked, "Why do they have this enmity towards Telangana, Hyderabad. Don't they like (to see) Hyderabad grow..."
"Big companies are coming (to the city) and the minister of home speaks such things. It conveys how much hatred they have for Telangana and Hyderabad," Owaisi said.
BJP leaders fear that investment is coming to Telangana under the leadership of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, he alleged.
On ISIS sympathisers being found in Hyderabad, he asked whether such people have not been caught in Uttar Pradesh in the highest number. "Has that (UP) become a den," he said.
"...Because, it is their mentality. Wherever they see a Muslim, they feel that he is a terrorist," Owaisi said.
Claiming that hate crimes against Muslims are happening at places like Gurugram and Begusarai even after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke (about inclusiveness), he said mere lip service would not do.
"Their policy that..Modi would say one thing and Kishan (Reddy) would say something else. Modi would say one thing and VHP would say something else....
"It is their theory of confusion. They keep practicing that... We have understood them. That's why I say, you practice," he said.
Noting that composite culture prevails in Telangana where progress is being achieved under the leadership of Chief Minister Rao, Owaisi claimed the BJP would prove to be unsuccessful in its attempts to grow in Telangana.
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Nepal records 18% turnout till noon in first election since govt-toppling Gen Z protests
Kathmandu (PTI): Nepal which went to polls on Thursday, the first since a violent Gen Z protest that toppled the K P Sharma Oli-led government last year, recorded a turnout of about 18 per cent till noon, according to the Election Commission.
The Election Commission said that around 3.16 million people have exercised their franchise till 12 pm, with the voting process going smoothly.
Voting is ongoing smoothly across the country with minor incidents in a very few places, Election Commissioner Sagun Shumsher Rana was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post.
More than 18.9 million eligible Nepalese are exercising their franchise to elect the 275-member House of Representatives from among the 3,406 candidates vying for 165 seats under direct voting, and 3,135 candidates vying for 110 seats through proportionate voting.
The voting started at 7 am and will conclude at 5 pm. The counting will start immediately after the ballot boxes are collected.
Nepal Police confirmed that apart from minor disagreements at a few locations, no serious problems had occurred.
Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle said, “Some jostling is expected during elections, but no major issues have arisen. We are ensuring that the voting process remains peaceful throughout the day.”
"Voting started in all the constituencies, including the southern plains, hilly area and the mountain region at 7 am," Election Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said.
“The election started in a peaceful environment across the country,” he added.
ALSO READ: Nepal records over 10% turnout till 11 am in first election since govt-toppling Gen Z protests
Addressing a press meet here on the eve of the polls, Acting Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari on Wednesday had said that all preparations for the election had been completed and urged voters to participate actively and enthusiastically in the democratic exercise.
In Kathmandu, the weather was fine, sky was clear and people were enthusiastically queuing up to cast their votes.
Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki cast her vote from Kathmandu-5 constituency at Dhapasi on the outskirts of Kathmandu on Thursday morning.
"I have cast my vote, I am happy that people are casting their votes, participating in the general election," she said.
Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa cast his vote from Kathmandu-4 constituency in Maitidevi in the morning.
"This election was needed to bring the Constitution back on the right track," he said.
Thapa, the prime ministerial candidate of Nepali Congress, is contesting the election from Dhanusha-4 constituency.
Rastriya Swotantra Party (RSP) president Ravi Lamichhane cast his vote from Chuchepati area on the outskirts of Kathmandu.
Prime ministerial candidate of RSP and former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah ‘Balen’ cast his vote from Gairegaun, Kathmandu. He is contesting the election from Jhapa-5.
Ousted premier Oli cast his vote from Balkot in Bhaktapur district.
The Gen Z youth, through their two-day intensified protests on September 8 and 9, ousted Prime Minister Oli, chair of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) -- CPN-UML -- who was heading a coalition government with the backing of Nepali Congress that enjoyed nearly two-thirds majority support.
The CPN-UML, led by ousted PM Oli, has emerged as the hardliner force. Though former premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'-led NCP claims to have addressed the issues raised by the Gen Z, they have not handed over the party leadership to the younger generation.
Rastriya Swotantra Party (RSP), led by its chair Ravi Lamichhane and senior leader Balendra Shah, and the reformed Nepali Congress, led by Gagan Thapa, are voicing the issues raised by the Gen Z, while CPN-UML and Nepali Communist Party, led by ‘Prachanda’, are known as the traditional forces.
Ujyalo Nepal Party, led by Kulman Ghising, and Shram Shakti Party, led by former Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang, are also emerging forces but enjoy support in limited pockets only.
After Oli's ouster, President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved the House of Representatives on September 12 and appointed Sushila Karki as the caretaker PM.
The major issues raised by Gen Z are anti-corruption, good governance, an end to nepotism, generational change in political leadership, etc.
Starting Wednesday, Nepal has declared a three-day holiday for the polls.
There are a total of 10,967 polling booths and 23,112 polling centres, the Election Commission data showed. As many as 65 political parties are taking part in the election.
