Hyderabad, November 25: Reacting sharply to Telangana BJP chief's promise to carry out surgical strikes in the old city area here should his party win the December civic polls of Greater Hyderabad, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi dared Bandi Sanjay's party to carry out the act of bravado in Ladakh, where China has occupied Indian territory.

The Hyderabad MP wanted to know why no surgical strikes are being carried out against China which has occupied 920 square kilometers of Indian territory. Condemning Sanjay's surgical strike comment, he wondered how a political party can speak such a language just for an election.

"They are saying they will carry out surgical strike in the old city to drive away Pakistanis. "How many Pakistanis are there in the old city? I am challenging them to show at least 100 Pakistanis living here," Owaisi said at an election meeting. GHMC Elections 2020: Smriti Irani Alleges AIMIM, TRS Working to Place Illegal Immigrants in Telangana's Voters' List.

He also said if Pakistanis have been living in the old city then Prime Minister Narendra Modi should first remove Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy from his cabinet as this was happening under his nose.

He also wanted to know what BJP government at the Centre was doing for six-and-half years if Pakistanis were living in the old city. Terming this as an insult to Hyderabad, Owaisi asked people to give a befitting reply to BJP in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections scheduled on December 1.

He alleged that BJP is trying to create hatred and re-create situation of 1980s and 1990s in Hyderabad.

"Hyderabad is the growth of engine of India. It is attracting investment of billions of rupees in information technology and pharmaceutical sector. Amazon and Microsoft have set up their second biggest global centres in Hyderabad. Youth belonging to all communities are getting jobs," he said.

Owaisi said people of all communities live in harmony in Hyderabad and there have been no communal problems for six and half years. "There are Muslims, Hindus, Dalits, Backward Classes and Sikhs living peacefully here. MIM works for all people irrespective of their religions and castes," he said. GHMC Elections 2020: Ahead of Municipal Polls, KCR Waives Off Water and Electricity Bills of Households and Businesses in Hyderabad.

He pointed out that MIM leader in Telangana Assembly and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi has demanded Rs 10 crore for Lal Darwaza temple in the old city.

He said his party has again fielded non-Muslims as its candidates in GHMC polls. "BJP divides people but we unite them," he added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 25, 2020 06:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).