Muslim quota meet in Pune refused use of ground

Police Monday refused permission to a proposed Muslim conference on reservations, scheduled here Feb 4, on technical grounds and after objections from the Pune Cantonment Board and the local Shiv Sena.

In a written communication, Vanavdi police station head Bapurao Kale informed the organizers that the CEO of Pune Cantonment Board had objected to the Golibar Maidan being allotted for the public conference, titled "Muslim Arakshan Parishad", scheduled to be addressed by AIMIM president and MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

"The open Golibar Maidan is intended for commercial purposes and not for holding a public meeting as we have planned. Police have refused permission and advised us to opt for a closed ground or hall for our event," a spokesperson for organizer Rafi Anjum Inamdar told IANS.

The conference, jointly organised by Mulnivasi Muslim Manch and Action Committee Maharashtra, has listed a retired Bombay High Court judge B.G. Kolse-Patil, who heads the Lokshashan Andolan, several NGOs and other Maratha political activists, as speakers.

Besides the PCB's reservations, local Shiv Sena president Vinayak Nimhan has objected to the conference and sought restrictions on it as Owaisi's speeches could created communal hatred.

Submitting a memorandum to the police commissioner demanding restrictions on the event and Owaisi, he claimed that Owaisi's speech may "disrupt communal harmony" and warned that his party would not tolerate any objectionable remarks at the conference.

Inamdar reacted saying it was strange that the Shiv Sena has demanded curbs on a Lok Sabha MP's speech even before he has spoken. "Let him first speak then decide whether it is objectionable or not."

The ACM and MMM said in a statement that the conference was "apolitical and it had no intentions of spreading animosity among communities".

Inamdar and AIMIM legislator Waris Pathan said that they are trying to finalise an alternate venue for the conference soon.