Not allowed to speak in Jamia event because I am in BJP: Shazia Ilmi

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shazia Ilmi on Wednesday claimed that she was not allowed to speak on the issue of triple talaq at a seminar in the Jamia Millia Islamia University because she belongs to the saffron party.

"I was invited to speak and was one of the participants in a panel discussion and it was to be on triple talaq. It is a very important issue on that we had to debate, but there was a lot of pressure on the organizers. They felt if Shazia will speak then it would lead to some kind of disturbance in the campus," Ilmi told ANI.

Asserting that double standards and hypocrisy prevails in the political narrative, Ilmi alleged that she was barred to speak in the event just because she was from the BJP.

"I have never ever caused any disturbance. I have always spoken against violence and led a very successful Anna Hazare campaign. How can they blame me as I have no track records of violence? Just because I am in BJP and there is open discrimination, I was not allowed to speak," she added.

"Because we are part of a party, because we call the bluff of Communist and call Congress corrupt, we have to face this harassment," Ilmi said.

As per reports, protests erupted in Jamia University after the organisers rescheduled the event and also changed the list of speakers removing Ilmi.

Ilmi was scheduled to attend a seminar at the college organised to discuss the controversial triple talaq issue on February 16.

The incident came to light at a time when assault on freedom of speech is coming under spotlight in the national capital where two incidents - Delhi University's Ramjas College row and Gurmehar Kaur controversy, triggered a stir.