Bengaluru Police Commissioner MN Reddi has banned All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi from entering the city for five days, starting Friday.
Not only has the Police Commissioner banned Owaisi's physical presence in the city, he has even prohibited the MIM president from addressing any public meeting through audio-visual or any other media in Bengaluru from 24-28 April, PTI reported.
Reddi imposed prohibitory order using the power vested upon him under CrPC Section 144(3) - which empowers a magistrate to bar someone from holding an assembly of more than 10 people, apprehending danger.
The MIM chief was reportedly banned in view of the public meeting scheduled for 25 April at Chota Maidan in Shivaji Nagar, a Muslim-dominated area, whcih was supposed to be addressed by Owaisi and other MIM leaders.
Hyderabad's Muslim political party decided to organise a rally on 25 April after they had to cancel the one planned on 21 February, ahead of which the city Commissioner issued prohibitory orders barring Owaisi's entry in Bengaluru from 19-25 February.
The Bengaluru Police had then reportedly cited Owaisi's previous record of making provocative speeches at public gatherings across India for issuing prohibitory orders.
Reacting to yet another ban, Owaisi said that he will approach the court challenging the prohibitory orders as it violates his Right to Freedom of Expression under Article 25 of the Constitution, according to The Hans India report.
He said the order was to "Stop MIM from strengthening its base... I will continue to criticise the ruling party in Karnataka for their anti-people policies and if Allah the Almighty wants, people will accept my views or reject them and this is the beauty of democracy."
