All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has reportedly refused to accept Z-category security cover following the attack on his car in Uttar Pradesh last week. Owaisi remarked that he is a free bird and wants to live that way.
“Today in the parliament, home minister Amit Shah asked me to accept Z category security. I want to say to him that the value of my life is not more than 22 people who died during the CAA protest. I don’t like people with arms around me, I’m a free bird, want to live freely,” said Owaisi.
Today in the parliament, HM Amit Shah asked me to accept Z category security. I want to say to him that value of my life is not more than 22 people who died during CAA protest. I don't like people with arms around me, I'm a free bird, want to live freely:AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi pic.twitter.com/lPnhD12xk3
— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022
Reason 1
Did the attack take place; or was it planned?
By refusing the Z+ security cover, it appears that Owaisi has exposed himself. Ever since the alleged gun attack took place on Owaisi’s car, he has been using it as an opportunity to gain political sympathy votes.
However, several conflicting versions of the attack have already been reported suggesting that Owaisi may not have been telling the full truth. According to a Dainik Bhaskar report, two FIRs have been registered in the case — one by Yamin who accompanied Owaisi, and the other by the police.
The two accused arrested in the case, Sachin and Shubham have also been caught in the CCTV. In the footage, they can be seen firing from the toll booth while Owaisi’s car is behind the other cars.
Multiple rounds of shooting ensue and yet, none of the two manages to scratch Owaisi’s car. It is only later when Owaisi ducks under the seat that attackers conveniently fire there. However, not a single windshield, window or tyre is struck by the bullet, in the entire episode.
Exclusive CCTV footage of the Attack on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi#AsaduddinOwaisi #AIMIM #AttackOnOwaisi pic.twitter.com/Vo3d0f40TW
— OUTPOST (@OpIndia22) February 4, 2022
However, the most perplexing issue is the case of the weapon i.e the pistol. Owaisi tweeted about the attack on 3rd February 2022 at 9 PM. He later shared a photo of the pistol allegedly found at the toll plaza. The pistol did not have ‘Kalava’ that is a sacred Hindu thread on it.
The police FIR however tells a different version of the story. In this FIR, it is said that Sachin was arrested at 11 PM and a pistol was also found with him. That pistol had Kalava tied on it. At 4 AM, Shubham was also arrested. A pistol was recovered from him too. Shubham was hiding his pistol in his sugarcane farm. Now the question arises, which pistol did Owaisi find at the toll plaza?
Furthermore, the statements made by Sachin in the FIR reek of a bad actor who has been paid by his masters to perform an elaborate ruse.
“I wanted to become a big politician. I consider myself a true patriot. I found Owaisi’s speeches harmful to the nation. In my head, I had developed an enmity with him,” Sachin confided to the police.
According to the police FIR, Sachin operated his Facebook page as ‘Sachin Hindu’ and was willing to kill Owaisi due to his anti-Hindu speeches. To execute this, he was in contact with Arif of AIMIM who is contesting from Dhaulana. But in reality, both of them are good friends.
Moreover, as informed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the parliament, Asaduddin Owaisi had no pre-scheduled event in the Hapur district on the day of the firing incident. Shah added that no information was provided to the District control room by the Parliamentarian about his movement.
Thus, it is a little suspicious that the alleged attackers managed to find the exact route of Owaisi’s convoy. And if the attackers were smart enough to figure out the route, why couldn’t they figure out the car in which Owaisi was sitting. Why did they start shooting early? And why did their bullets go astray that even an absolute rookie would not have managed to hit?
Read More: Owaisi wants to be the Kasim Razvi of 2021 and he might end up suffering the same fate
Reason 2
Owaisi is gearing for a sequel
The second reason Owaisi may have refused to take the security cover is for purely box office collection. Orchestrating a shooting episode is bound to attract a lot of eyeballs and publicity. And as we have come to understand – no publicity is bad publicity.
AIMIM is largely still a regional party. No one takes it rather seriously outside Hyderabad. Even the opposition believes that AIMIM is BJP’s b-party. Thus, Owaisi, desperate to wash this stain off of himself may be trying to emulate the old playbook of climbing the political ladder.
After communal and hate speeches, it is the next part of moving through the political crowd and reaching the centre stage — something which Owaisi desires deeply.
Read more: We’ll convert you to Islam and will make you keep beard: Asaduddin Owaisi
Also with a Z+ security all along, it will be tough for Owaisi to orchestrate similar shooting fiasco all together.
Reason 3
A political martyr, connected to the ground
Most importantly, Owaisi wants to present himself as a political martyr who is connected to the soil. He wants to convey a message to Muslim voters in Uttar Pradesh that he is ruffling the right feathers which are drawing the gun attacks.
By painting himself as one of their own, Owaisi wants to en-cash in on the precious vote bank. His remarks already prove the aforementioned statements.
Owaisi, after the attack, compared himself to Mohandas Gandhi and alleged that those who fired gunshots at his convoy were the ones who assassinated the ‘Father of Nation.’
“Those who fired bullets were also the ones who killed Gandhi. I talk about the rights of the people, hence the bullets were fired. I talk about the stake (of Muslims), so the shot was fired. When I talk within the ambit of the Constitution, the evildoers cannot tolerate it… If one Owaisi dies, I bequeath you to produce lakhs of Owaisi.” the AIMIM chief said.
Baghpat, UP | If one Owaisi will be killed then you've (addressing public gathering) to give birth to more Owaisi. If you (BJP) can't save common people then what's the point of providing Z category security to me. Guns can't stop me: AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi pic.twitter.com/DvDpIPY7eq
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 5, 2022
Ahead of the UP elections, it is the make-or-break moment for Owaisi and his party. Hence, he is going all out, doing the whole nine yards to make a spectacle out of the fake shooting and gain the few measly votes.
