G Kishan Reddy, the new Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, stirred controversy on the first day in office.
The new MoS called Hyderabad a "safe terror zone", which was sharply criticised and strongly objected by Hyderabad MP All India Majlis-e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
"There are places in a country where terror activities are on the rise. If an incident takes place in Bengaluru or Bhopal, its roots are traced to Hyderabad. State police, NIA have arrested terrorists in Hyderabad every 2-3 months," thew MoS spoke to media after assuming charge on Friday.
It may be mentioned here that Kishan Reddy was elected from Secunderabad, one of the Lok Sabha constituencies in the Hyderabad city.
Sources informed that Union Home Home Minister Amit Shah pulled up Reddy for the remark, soon after his statement went viral. Even though it could not be confirmed what exactly Shah told Reddy.
Meanwhile, Asaduddin Owaisi also said for the last five years, there was complete peace in Hyderabad as no communal took place in the city and all religious festivals passed off peacefully.
"I would like to ask him (Reddy) that in the last five years, how many times did NIA, IB and RAW gave in writing that Hyderabad is a safe zone for terror? It is unfortunate that he is saying such things," Owaisi said, terming Kishan Reddy's statement "irresponsible".
The AIMIM chief also accused the BJP of having "hatred" for Muslims and targeting them.
"An MoS speaking like this! This shows their hatred for Telangana, Hyderabad. Such irresponsible statements don't suit a minister, but we expect this from him. Wherever they see Muslims, they take them for terrorists. We can't cure them," Owaisi said.
Asaduddin Owaisi further claimed the BJP was following a "theory of confusion" as Prime Minister Narendra Modi says one thing while his ministers, leaders of BJP, VHP, other organizations and Baba Ramdev say something else.
