Summary:
Patna, Sep 14 (PTI) AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday took umbrage over “suspicions” that he had a soft corner for the Taliban and dared the Narendra Modi government at the Centre to declare the militant group a “terrorist organisation”.
Addressing a press conference here, the firebrand Hyderabad MP also demanded that the government, given the fact that India currently headed the UN committee on sanctions, give an assurance that none of the Taliban leaders will be delisted from the list of terrorists.
“Why do you raise suspicions (shaq) over me with regard to Taliban? Was it Asaduddin Owaisi who had handed over jailed terrorists to secure the release of passengers of the hijacked plane in Kandahar”, said Owaisi in response to questions about some BJP leaders having dubbed him as a man of “Talibani soch (mindset)”.
Owaisi said he has made his stance clear about the Taliban on the floor of Parliament but his words of caution were not heeded.
“During the debate on CAA, I had requested the government to consider making the Act religion-neutral, warning them of a possible takeover by the Taliban.
But for that strategic blunder, we would have been in a position to grant safe asylum to Tajiks, Uzbeks, and members of other minority tribes”, said Owaisi.