Owaisi 'hate speech': Congress for 'strictest' steps on politics of hate

As controversy raged over the 'hate speech' of MIM MLA from Andhra Pradesh Akbaruddin Owaisi, Congress on Thursday advocated "strictest possible steps" against those doing politics of hate.

"Law will take its own course. If any person, whether he is a politician or otherwise, tries to spread hatred in the country and do politics of hatred, then strictest possible action should be taken against them.

"I am sure the Andhra Pradesh government will take action," party spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters here.

Reacting strongly to Owaisi's speech, BJP earlier on Thursday demanded his immediate arrest and slammed the Centre's "deafening silence" on the issue.

In a statement, former finance minister and BJP MP Yashwant Sinha described the speech as "pure poison" and "objectionable in the extreme".

Akbaruddin, brother of MIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, is MLA from Chandrayangutta Assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh. He had allegedly used inflammatory and derogatory language against a particular community in a public speech at Adilabad last week.