AIMIM slams government for denying permission to hold poll rally

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which is planning to contest the BBMP elections from 50 wards, on Sunday said the denial of permission for its election meeting was a “panic reaction of the ruling Congress in the State to the AIMIM’s decision to contest the polls.”

The AIMIM said the police have refused to grant permission to organise a public meeting at the Chota Maidan in Shivajinagar on August 11 in connection with the upcoming BBMP elections.

The AIMIM had sought permission from the local authorities and the City police for holding the meeting which was to be addressed by the party president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, the party’s Bengaluru district president said in a media release. While refusing permission, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the jurisdictional Commercial Street police station recalled that the police commissioner had issued orders banning the entry of AIMIM president into Bengaluru in February and April 2015.

The SHO claimed that the public meeting can’t be allowed on a working day and there was a likelihood of breach of peace since there are a number of mosques and temples in the area. He further claimed that AIMIM chief’s statement on the hanging of Yakub Memon had surcharged the atmosphere across the country, the release said.

The AIMIM said it will field its candidates in the BBMP elections and would organise its poll campaign as it is a political party registered with the State Eelection Commission.