Can’t Do Anything If You Have Fear in Mind: Shah-Owaisi Spar in LS

The Lok Sabha on Monday, 15 July, witnessed a spat between Home Minister Amit Shah and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, with the BJP chief asserting that he is not frightening anyone but cannot help when someone has fear in their minds.

The verbal duel between the two leaders started during a discussion on the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, when opposition members including Owaisi started interrupting BJP’s Satyapal Singh.

Singh alleged that the then Hyderabad Police commissioner was asked by a political leader of the state to change the course of investigation in a particular case else he could be transferred out.

He said he is aware of the development as at that time he was Mumbai police commissioner.

Objecting to his claim, Owaisi, a MP from Hyderabad, demanded that Singh should place on table of the House all records related to his claim.

On this, Shah got up from his seat and said treasury members did not disturb opposition members during their speeches so they should also do the same.

Pointing at Owaisi, Shah said opposition members should have the patience to listen to others’ point of view.

Owaisi got agitated and asked Shah to not point a finger at him and said he cannot be frightened.

In response, Shah said he is not trying to frighten him and just saying that opposition members should have patience to listen to the counter view.

"When you have fear in your mind then what can I do," he hit back.

The Lok Sabha later passed the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that allows NIA to probe terror cases targeting Indians and Indian assets abroad. Responding to concern over possible misuse of the terror law, Shah assured the House that the bill was aimed only at eliminating terrorism.

The Minister added that the anti-terror law will not see the religion of people involved in terror activities and the changes in the law will effectively handle terror cases.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)