Speaking at the Lok Sabha, the AIMIM MP urged the central government to charge those who attacked him with the strict provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and called for an end to radicalization in the country.

On Thursday, shots were fired at Owaisi’s car in Hapur, western Uttar Pradesh, as he was returning to Delhi after campaigning for Assembly elections.

“I don’t want Category Z security. I want to be a Category A citizen, equal to all of you. Why was the UAPA not invoked against those who shot me? …I want to live, to speak. My life will be safe when the poor are safe. I will not be afraid of those who shot at my car,” he told parliament.

Earlier, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the state government had arrested the culprits and also seized the weapon and vehicle used in the attack. Goyal said Home Minister Amit Shah would make a statement to the House on Monday.

Owaisi also alleged that the ‘dharma sansad’ held at Prayagraj could also be behind the attack. He also said that “people (in the sansad) stood up and talked about killing me”.

“A lot of people are behind them (the shooters). A so-called ‘dharma sansad’ took place recently in Prayagraj where people stood up and talked about killing me. Why does the government not act against these elements? ANI news agency quoted Owaisi.

MP AIMIM also called for the creation of a de-radicalization group for all religions. “I asked Parliament for this in 2015, to create a deradicalization group for all religions. Radicalization killed Mahatma Gandhi, our two former prime ministers and many other leaders,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hapur police said on Friday they had arrested the second suspect involved in the shooting at Owaisi’s car. Police have filed an FIR for attempted murder in the case and the accused pair have been taken into custody, he said.

The AIMIM leader’s car was attacked in Hapur as he was driving back to Delhi after attending election-related events in western Uttar Pradesh on Thursday night, a week before polls were due to start in Delhi. ‘State.

No one was injured in the incident, Owaisi said.

“One of the defendants has been identified as Sachin, a resident of Badalpur in Gautam Buddh Nagar, while the other is Shubham, a native of Nakur in Saharapur,” police said in a statement.

Two pistols were seized in their possession and a Maruti Alto car was also seized in connection with the case, police said. The FIR was filed at Pilakhua Police Station under Section 307 of the IPC (attempted murder) and Section 7 of the Crimes Amendment Act, he added.

(With agency contributions)