What is the meaning of Owaisi’s ’15 minutes’ statement? Which heated up the election atmosphere in Maharashtra

Asaduddin Owaisi in Solapur: maharashtra assembly elections During the campaign, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi once again mentioned the controversial “15 minutes” statement of 2012. Owaisi took this statement as a taunt in his ongoing war of words with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This statement reminds of the statement of his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, in which he had said that if we remove the police for 15 minutes, we will show who is powerful.

During the election rally, the police issued a notice to Owaisi to stop him from giving inflammatory speeches. The police warned Owaisi under section 168 of the Indian Penal Code that any kind of speech should not hurt the sentiments of any community. Owaisi read the police notice on the stage and, making fun of the notice issued in Marathi, demanded a notice in English.

AIMIM President Barrister @asadowaisi Majlis candidates in Solapur, Maharashtra @ShabdiMFarooq Addressed a huge public meeting in support of.#AIMIM #AsaduddinOwaisi #farooqshabdi #Solapur #maharashtrawithaimim #maharashtra #Owaisi #VoteForKite #MaharashtraElection2024, pic.twitter.com/M5YSxRpQh1

— AIMIM (@aimim_national) November 14, 2024

New context for ’15 minutes’ statement
Owaisi quipped by linking the police notice and the timing of his speech. He showed the time of 9:45 from the stage and said, “There are still 15 minutes left,” to make it clear that his statement was related to the remaining time of the election campaign. Along with this, Owaisi took a picture of the notice given in Marathi and raised questions on the notice and said, “Does the police love only us?”

AIMIM’s election campaign in Maharashtra
AIMIM is contesting elections on 16 seats of Maharashtra Assembly. Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi are busy campaigning for their candidates in Maharashtra. Owaisi claimed that AIMIM will support a secular government in the state and will support a secular candidate for the post of chief minister.

Fadnavis’s counter attack
After Asaduddin Owaisi’s statement, Fadnavis targeted him and said that Owaisi is glorifying Aurangzeb in Maharashtra and he has no work in Maharashtra. Fadnavis challenged Owaisi and said, “You stay there, because you have no work here.”

History of controversial statement
In 2012, Asaduddin Owaisi’s brother Akbaruddin Owaisi had said, “We are 25 crores in India and you are 100 crores. If the police is removed for 15 minutes, we will show who is powerful.” A case was registered against Akbaruddin on this statement and he had to go to jail, however, later giving him the benefit of doubt, the court acquitted him.

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