Police okays Owaisi's rally after party changes venue

Pune: A day after refusing permission to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's rally in a municipal ward ahead of civic polls, police today allowed the party to hold the programme in Bhavani Peth area instead of near Seven Loves Chowk as planned earlier.

"While showing positive approach, police today granted permission to us to hold the public rally near an open space in timber market in Bhavani Peth area and now Owaisi will hold the rally on Tuesday at 5 pm," said AIMIM city unit president Anjum Inamdar. Khadak Police had last night refused permission to the rally saying Seven Loves Chowk area, which was identified by AIMIM for the event, has a mixed population and that there could be a threat to Owaisi's life given the "communally inciting" nature of his speeches.

In their letter, police stated the permission cannot be granted in view of law and order situation. "After the permission was denied to hold rally near Seven Loves Chowk area, we today met the senior officials from the Pune Police and now permission has been granted by the cops to hold rally at an open space in Timber market in Bhavani Peth," said Inamdar. The civic polls to Pune Municipal Corporation will be held on February 21.