Owaisi Jr rakes up a controversy in Andhra Pradesh with a hate speech

Akbaruddin Owaisi, the brother of Asaduddin Owaisi and a member of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly belonging to the All India Majlis-e Ittihad al-Muslimin (MIM), is facing charges of making hate speech that could incite communal hatred. 

KK Sagar, who is affiliated to the BJP, has filed a case against Akbaruddin Owaisi in a local court in Hyderabad alleging that state legislator has delivered a provocative speech instigating communal hatred.

A court will take up the case against the 42-year-old Akbaruddin Owaisi on Monday.

The complaint has been filed under section 295 a and 298 of the Indian Penal Code, which deal with offences related to religion, like deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs and fomenting enmity between two communities.

The younger Owaisi has toured several districts and addressed gatherings over the last two months. Those speeches were also telecast on local channel 4TV, owned by an MIM leader, who has also been made a party in the case.

Ever since the MIM parted ways with the Congress party in November, observers say it has tended to become more aggressive in asserting its religious identity.