Take action against Togadia: Digvijaya

Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday said strong action should be taken against Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia for his alleged hate speech made near Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh recently.

"I just heard Praveen Togadia on a news channel. I demand that similar action must be taken against him like Owaisi," Singh told media on Wednesday.

"I request the Home Minister and the state CM to take strict action against him," he said.

Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (MIM) leader and MP Asaduddin Owaisi earlier in the day said he was ´sure´ that no action would be taken against Togadia for his alleged hate speech.

"I am sure no action will be taken. Even if action is taken severity of law will not be used against him," said Asaduddin Owaisi.

Notably, Asaduddin Owaisi´s brother MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi is in jail for his recent hate speech against Hindus in Andhra Pradesh.

Togadia himself reacted angrily when asked about his alleged hate speech and told a reporter that he is not a journalist with integrity.

In his speech, Togadia allegedly attacked Akbaruddin Owaisi and Muslims in general.

The video of his speech has gone viral on the internet.

A police complaint has been filed against the leader in Hyderabad.

The police said they are verifying the video on the basis of which the complaint was filed; no case has been field so far.

The police are also verifying the jurisdiction as Togadia reportedly delivered the speech at the Maharashtra-Andhra Pradesh border.

Pertinently, Asaduddin Owaisi´s brother Akbaruddin Owaisi was arrested on Jan 8 on charges of delivering a hate speech in Adilabad in December.

Akbaruddin Owaisi faced a number of charges including sedition, waging or attempting to wage war against the state, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, and for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.