Hyderabad, July 24: Re-stoking the controversy over his "15 minute" remark from a speech in 2013, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)'s firebrand leader Akbaruddin Owaisi said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is "still scared" of it. Owaisi's remark came while addressing a political meeting in Nizamabad ahead of the upcoming civic polls.

Owaisi told the gathering that the "right-wing forces" are still stuck over his "15 minute" remark. "RSS can never even think of touching us. People only scare those who get scared easily and the world is scared of those who know how to scare people off," he added. Asaduddin Owaisi Blames Congress for Making Laws Like UAPA

Notably, Owaisi had in 2013 drawn severe flak after his remarks had purportedly suggested that if the police is withdrawn, the minority community can effectively clash against the majority.

"We are 25 crore and they are 100 crore. Remove the police for just 15 minutes and see how the numbers turn out after that," he was quoted as saying.

A case was subsequently registered against Owaisi and he was kept in prison for two months before being released on bail. The trial is currently underway.

The junior Owaisi, as the Chandrayangutta MLA is popularly referred to, appealed the gathering in Nizamabad on Wednesday to defeat the BJP at all cost in the upcoming civic polls.

"There was a time when Deputy Mayor of Nizamabad was from AIMIM, now BJP has an MP in Nizamabad. If you don't want AIMIM to win, it is okay, but defeat the BJP," he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2019 07:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).