Owaisi’s remarks came days after the Supreme Court declined to grant bail to Khalid and Imam on January 5, while allowing bail to five other accused in the same case, including Gulfisha Fatima. The apex court’s decision has once again brought the stringent provisions of the UAPA under public scrutiny.
Targeting the Congress, Owaisi said the party laid the foundation for the current law when it amended the UAPA during its tenure at the Centre. “These young men have been in jail for five-and-a-half years. Has any Congress leader faced such prolonged imprisonment since Independence?” he asked, alleging that the law has disproportionately affected minorities. He claimed that under the UAPA, individuals can be kept in custody for up to 180 days without a chargesheet, making bail extremely difficult.
The AIMIM chief also criticised the BJP-led government, accusing it of further tightening the law after coming to power. He pointed to the 2019 amendments, introduced when Amit Shah was Union Home Minister, which allow authorities to designate individuals as terrorists. According to Owaisi, this has widened the scope for misuse and weakened safeguards against arbitrary arrests.
Expanding his attack beyond domestic politics, Owaisi questioned the BJP’s nationalist credentials. Referring to recent remarks attributed to former US President Donald Trump about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Owaisi alleged that the ruling party avoids responding to sensitive international issues. “The BJP remains silent on comments from Trump and on China, but keeps invoking the Mughals and Pakistan. This nationalism is only for show,” he said.
The Congress has not immediately responded to Owaisi’s remarks. Legal experts note that while UAPA amendments have been carried out by successive governments, the debate over balancing national security with individual rights remains unresolved.
Owaisi’s statements are likely to add momentum to the ongoing political and legal discourse around the UAPA, especially as opposition parties and civil rights groups continue to demand safeguards against its alleged misuse. With key cases still pending and bail remaining elusive for several accused, the issue is expected to stay in focus in the months ahead.
