TL-SHAH-OWAISI

Owaisi dares Amit Shah to debate on CAA with "bearded man"
Hyderabad, Jan 22 (PTI) After Home Minister Amit Shah
threw a challenge to leaders like Rahul Gandhi for a public
debate over CAA, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi joined issue and
wanted the former to discuss the law with him instead of
others.
Addressing a rally in Karimnagar district on Tuesday
night ahead of the municipal polls on January 25, the
Hyderabad MP said the Home Minister called for a public debate
on CAA with the opposition even as he asked Shah to debate
with him on the legislation.
At a rally in Lucknow in support of the CAA on Tuesday,
Shahhad emphatically said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
will not be withdrawn and those protesting can continue to do
so even as he challenged opposition leaders for a public
debate on the amended leglislation.
Accusing the opposition of "misleading" people on the
amended citizenship law, Shah threw the challenge for the
debate to Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav
(Samajwadi Party) and Mayawati(Bahujan Samaj Party).
Reacting to Shah's challenge, Owaisi said, "I am here..
debate with me.. why (debate) with these people.. 'Daadi wale
se karo na' (Debate with a bearded man). We will talk and
debate on CAA, NPR and NRC."
The CAA allows easier citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs,
Buddhists, Christians, Parsis and Jains who entered India from
three neighbouring countries before 2015 after facing
religious persecution. Muslim migrants don't figure on this
list.
The AIMIM chief hit out at the BJP over renaming of
places, while mentioning about the 'Halwa' ceremony ahead of
the Union budget.
"BJP says it will change names. I want to ask from where
did the word halwa originate? It is an Arabic word. It is
neither Hindi nor Urdu (word). now remove the Arabic word..
They (BJP) say they will (continue to) change names.
Inshallah people of the country will change you," the
Hyderabad MP said adding "remember I am not halwa.. I am lal
mirchi (red chilli)."
Meanwhile, the AIMIM has requested the Telangana State
Election Commission not to use face recognition app being used
on pilot basis in the polls for urban local bodies, alleging
that it would invade the privacy of the citizens, among other
violations. PTI VVK GDK
ROH ROH

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)