Will not be cowed down by IS threats, says Owaisi

MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday said that he will not be cowed down by threats from Islamic State, and continue to speak out against it as it has nothing to do with Islam.

A day after somebody tweeted on his wall asking him to shut his mouth and leave democracy, the Hyderabad MP, who moves around without any security, said he would not seek protection in the wake of threats.

"I receive such threats everyday. I will live as long as Allah wills," he said.

Stating that IS' ideology is devilish and based on hatred, Owaisi said there was need to finish this ideology.

"They don't know mercy. They don't know the meaning of mercy. They massacred 1.5 lakh Muslims including scholars," he said, pointing out that all Islamic scholars in India and abroad have have condemned IS actions and urged people to be cautious.

He said his Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) had taken a political stand that it is against all anti-national forces.

"Nobody can cast an evil eye on India. All Indians irrespective of their religion will unitedly counter any such threat. We have political differences and we will continue to have it but when it comes to the integrity of our beloved country, we are one," he said.

An alleged IS sympathiser had tweeted Wednesday "It's better for you to shut your mouth on Islamic State if you don't know the truth, Islamic State will invade India soon."

To this Owaisi replied "Sir you are a bloody Takfiri, if you want to debate on Evil ISIS I am ready you will not be able to counter my Theological Points."

"You can dream so keep dreaming Takfiri read book on ISIS will bring y out of Darkness of ISIS Allah give Taufeeq," Owaisi added.

Takfiri is the word used for those Muslims who accuse other Muslims of apostasy. Owaisi said he replied as he would not have kept quiet on the rubbish of invading India.

The IS sympathiser then tweeted asking Owaisi to leave democracy. "Your Disgrace for Muslims of India. Opposing Islamic state will lead you to hell only repent before end."

Owaisi told reporters that this itself shows that IS thinking is devilish. "The power of sending somebody to hell or heaven rests solely with Allah. It's not in the hands of any human being," he added.

Asked why he did not lodge a complaint with police, the MP said when the government is monitoring everything, it was for the government to trace the person who tweeted and take action.

On Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy's statement that the work on the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya would start before this year-end, the MIM chief said it was contempt of court as the matter was subjudice.

Swamy had also stated on Wednesday that he hoped the Supreme Court would deliver the judgment in Ayodhya case by August-September.

"How does he know when the court is going to give the verdict," the MP asked and alleged that Swamy is casting aspersions on the Supreme Court.

On the pillars and stones being brought into Ayodhya by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, he demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government should take immediate action and seize the material.

Pointing out that the status quo has to be maintained as per the orders of the Supreme Court, Owaisi said though preparations were being made for an offence, the state government was doing nothing, and alleged that the ruling Samajwadi Party is hand-in-glove with the BJP.