• Source:JND
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Two days after the Delhi LG sanctioned the prosecution of activist and author Arundhati Roy under the UAPA Act, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the law as 'extremely ruthless,' stating that the lives of thousands of Muslim, Dalit, and tribal youth were ruined because of it. Taking to the social media website X, Owaisi also attacked successive Congress and BJP governments at the centre for making the UAPA Act even stricter.

The remarks of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen national president came after Delhi LG VK Saxena's approval to try Arundhati Roy under the UAPA Act sparked a fresh debate on the stringent nature of the act. Along with Arundhati, Sheikh Showkat Hussain, former Professor of International Law at the Central University of Kashmir, will also be tried under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the same case.

The case against Roy and Hussain pertained to a provocative speech made by them in 2010 in connection to Kashmir.

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A fresh row erupted after the opposition called the action of the Delhi LG a blow to dissent in the country. Taking to the microblogging site X, Owaisi wrote: "The UAPA law is in discussion again today. This is an extremely cruel law due to which thousands of Muslim, Dalit, and tribal youth were imprisoned and their lives were ruined."

"This law led to the death of an 85-year-old Stan Swamy," Owaisi said.

Owaisi further said that he has opposed the law at every stage. "This law was made more stringent by the Congress government in 2008 and 2012. Even then I had opposed it. In 2019, when the BJP again brought stricter provisions/restrictions on this, the Congress supported the BJP. I had opposed this law even then," he said.

Hitting out at the PM Modi-led union government, Owaisi said, "If there was an expectation from Modi 3.0 that they would learn something from the [Lok Sabha] election results, then he dashed this hope. This series of atrocities and excesses will continue," the AIMIM chief said.

Notably, the BJP led by PM Modi failed to gain a majority in the Lok Sabha, following the conclusion of the 2024 general elections. Unlike its astounding performances in 2014 and 2019, the party could win only 240 seats in this election.