All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said he will not be surprised if suspended BJP functionary Nupur Sharma contests the next Lok Sabha election from Delhi. Former BJP national spokesperson Nupur Sharma was suspended from the party following a controversy triggered by her remarks on the Prophet Mohammad during a debate on a news channel. (Also Read | SC judge who slammed Nupur Sharma’s remarks calls out agenda-driven attacks)
Casting aspersions on BJP's action against Sharma, Owaisi, in a podcast with ANI's Smita Prakash, said, "She will definitely come back and fight elections for BJP."
"BJP will definitely use her. I will not be surprised if she is made a candidate from Delhi in the Lok Sabha elections," the AIMIM chief said.
Nupur Sharma's controversial remark on the Prophet during a news debate in June 2022 drew condemnation from Muslim-majority countries as they registered a formal protest to Indian envoys. The controversy led to several violent incidents in the country, including the beheading of a tailor in Udaipur, Rajasthan, over the issue of supporting Nupur Sharma.
Kanhaiya Lal, 48, was killed with a cleaver inside his shop on June 28, with the assailants claiming that they hacked Lal to death to avenge an alleged insult to Islam.
In December, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against 11 people, including two Pakistani nationals, in the brutal murder of Kanhaiya Lal. The charge sheet was filed in a special NIA court in Jaipur against the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act.
{{/usCountry}}In December, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against 11 people, including two Pakistani nationals, in the brutal murder of Kanhaiya Lal. The charge sheet was filed in a special NIA court in Jaipur against the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act.
{{/usCountry}}"Incidents like the Udaipur beheading should be condemned. I am against slogans like 'Sar Tan Se Juda'. I openly condemn it. Such a statement instigates violence. I am against violence," Owaisi said.
“It is not the first time Nupur Sharma had come on a television channel. She made controversial remarks on a Hindi news channel before as well. I am against the threats used against her,” Owaisi added as he made it clear, "Whatever she said is absolutely wrong."