Dadri killing linked to religion: Owaisi

Says the killing wasn't an accident but a pre-planned and cold-blooded attack

Controversial AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi today visited the family of the man killed here by a mob following rumours that he and family had consumed beef and alleged that he was targeted for his religion as the political blame-game over the shocking incident intensified.

Owaisi, who heads the Muslim right wing All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), met the wife of deceased Iqlakh this morning and hit out at the Samajwadi government, alleging instead of nabbing the attackers it was "investigating a piece of meat and treating the victim as accused".

"This wasn't an attack over meat. He has been killed in the name of religion. This is a pre-planned, cold-blooded killing. It cannot be an accident.

"This is the thought which is against secularism, it is against the brotherhood of India. It sees Muslims with an eye of suspicion," the Hyderabad MP said.

Owaisi also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his silence on the issue, saying the "Sabka Saath Sabha Vikaas PM" should have at least sent his condolences in a tweet.

The AIMIM leader also hit out at Union Minister and local MP Mahesh Sharma who had termed the attack as an "accident".

"Mahesh Sharma is the Culture Minister of the country and it is unfortunate that the minister who has taken oath on the Constitution doesn't have the courage and intellectual honesty to condemn the incident unconditionally," Owaisi said.

"He and his PM say 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas', then such incidents happen. These words should be put into practice," he said.

Iqlakh was beaten to death and his 22-year-old son Danish was critically injured by a 200-strong mob which barged into their house on Monday night following rumours that the family had consumed beef. Cow slaughter is banned in Uttar Pradesh.