New Delhi: AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi’s controversial statement 11 years ago, which was perceived as a threat to Hindus, has now elicited a shocking response from BJP leader Navneet Rana. While campaigning for Madhavi Latha, the BJP candidate for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, which is dominated by Mr Owaisi’s brother Asaduddin Owaisi, Ms Rana referred to Akbaruddin Owaisi’s 2013 remark and stated, “The younger brother said, ‘Remove police for 15 minutes so we can show what we can do’. I want to inform him that it might take him 15 minutes, but it will only take us 15 seconds…”
Furthermore, Ms Rana made additional comments that were deemed inappropriate. She asserted that Madhavi Latha will “definitely prevent Hyderabad from becoming Pakistan” and alleged that voting for either the Congress or the AIMIM would essentially be supporting Pakistan.
A 39-second video clip of the tirade by Ms Rana was shared on her X (formerly Twitter) account, with the Owaisi brothers being mentioned in the post. The elder Owaisi, known for never shying away from a challenge, promptly responded and challenged Ms Rana to act on her words.
“I am informing (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji… give her those 15 seconds. What will she accomplish? Give her those 15 seconds… give her even an hour. We are also curious to see their actions. Is there any sense of humanity left in them? Who is afraid? We are prepared… if someone is issuing a public challenge (like this) then let it happen. Go ahead. Who is holding you back?” Mr Owaisi informed the press.
The BJP has never emerged victorious in this constituency; in 2019, the party nominated Bhagavanth Rao, who received fewer than 236,000 votes, while Mr Owaisi garnered over half a million votes and a 64 percent share of the vote.
Mr Owaisi has already engaged in a heated clash with his opponent in this election.