DNA Exclusive: 'Would have got him hanged if I were President', says Munawwar Rana on Charlie Hebdo row

Urdu poet Munawwar Rana, recently has been in the news for his controversial statements. Sometime back, the Uttar Pradesh police booked him for allegedly justifying the recent killings in France over caricatures of Prophet Muhammed.

In his interview from Lucknow with our reporter, Pawan Sengar, the poet said that people either did not understand or misinterpreted his statement given on the French issue. He further stated that statements are not controversial, its either good or bad.

An FIR was lodged against Munawwar Rana at the Hazratganj police station for justifying the murders in France and spreading communal discord, which could threaten social harmony and law and order. He was booked under various charges, including promoting enmity between groups and outraging religious feelings with deliberate intent.

Speaking on Asaduddin Owaisi, Rana was quick to respond that he never liked him. His father was just the same as Owaisi is now. One brother sits and speaks from his Hyderabad bunker. Rana says, 'More than Hindus, Muslims don't like him. He says he will fix India in 15 minutes. He is making statements from where he is surrounded by Muslims. They only know how to trick people.'

The poet said, 'Here Owaisi comes and chants Muslim-Muslim. In Bihar fought elections in 22 seats and gave the edge to the BJP. There are 11 seats were RJD and Congress lost by a low margin. And when the BJP comes in majority, he shamefully says that he is extending support.'

Rana further states, 'Owaisi in a way is a straight broker. How is he BJP's B team, where does he have a team. Comes from Hyderabad, ignites fire and goes away. Does not have that much of brains to think that because of him BJP will benefit. You abuse Modi and also benefit him. Now he will come to UP, go to Bengal. He is an invader. He doesn't even have brains. He is the Rana Sanga of the Muslims.'

Munawwar Rana goes on to say, 'He knows BJP is benefiting because of him. But then he only does that which will benefit the BJP. Their family was poor. Today have become owners of 15 thousand crores. Helped in losing Bihar, will do the same in Bengal. He will go everywhere and help BJP win and facilitate in creating a Hindu rashtra. All the people of this country want it to be a Hindu nation.'

Speaking on Taslima NasrIn, the poet said, 'She is a Tarek Fatah (Pakistani-Canadian journalist and author). Just like Rudali film, the government calls them.' 

Munawwar Rana stated that his resentment with the IT cell was because they are blind supporters. They call up and abuse. A young man even abused his mother. He said, 'You started speaking the language of the BJP. Those who are abusing are the IT cell people.'

The poet in his interview said that he never said he will behead, he said that its wrong to do this with any religion. He said, 'When I say I will hit, I can also mean slapping. I didn't talk about beheading. What happened to Maqbool Fida Hussain, he had to leave the country. My God knows what I meant. Playing with any religion is like playing with fire.'

He further added, 'You understand that I hate the BJP, it is wrong, they do injustice, they think I am a third class man.'

Munawwar Rana throws the question that after Jinnah, did anyone come up to that stature. He said that in India we don't even demand anyone to become.

When asked that Abdul Kalam was also the President of India, Rana was quick to respond, 'Sorry but I would like to state that President is only a stamp paper. Won't say the same thing about Abdul Kalam because he was a different personality. But generally Presidents have remained stamp papers. 

When asked that Modi ji and Yogi ji say we are working for the development of everyone, all schemes are for all people, whether minority or majority, Rana responded, 'Yogi ji did not even allow the goat to be cut in Bakrid. People are put in jails, are they accused and you say development for all. They brought down the hospital of Mukhtar Ansari. Have taken away employment of two thousand people. What is happening with Atiq Ahmed. Chief minister is squashing all cases against him and bring down others houses. If someone tells that my house is built on Nazul's land then they will demolish my house too.'

When asked that Mukhtar and Atiq are criminals, there is history sheet against them, Rana replied, 'If you start counting criminals then you will find 200 in Parliament. I am saying how much damage was done under their cover. CM removes all cases against him and brings down other's houses. Here after Ghanta ghar procession they took out a new law - Three lakh notices given and will impose NSA.'

'Many thousands of people became unemployed due to the closure of the meat shop - now if they commit crimes, they will take weird names and say that they are terrorists. You are not letting us live, or letting us die.'

When asked about police questioning him, he blamed the media for this.

On stating that media only showed what he said, Munawwar Rana was quick to respond that when did he say that they showed wrong

When asked whether he had any regrets on his statement on the France matter, he replied, 'No and never. I never made such statements, one or two words may have slipped. In this era, am not a God.'

'The thing about cutting the neck is a long story - it was done to target a religion. If you want to make cartoons, then you should have made of Dawood. A teacher did that. Forgive me, but if I would have been the President I would have got him hanged.'

When asked, 'So you are not expressing regret - but saying you would have hanged him', Rana replied that he would not withdraw from his statement. Every single word he is saying are the ones he said.