The entire area of Charminar witnessed a sea of humanity.

NEW DELHI – A day after All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi survived a gun attack in Uttar Pradesh, party workers, along with his supporters and well-wishers, took out a rally to register their protest. Owaisi had a providential escape on Thursday when gunshots were fired at the car he was travelling in.

The rally passed by Makkah Masjid close to the medieval architectural marvel, Charminar. Members of the AIMIM had called for protest in Hyderabad over UP government’s failure to provide adequate security to the Member of Parliament (MP) and a popular leader in national politics.

During the rally the entire area of Charminar witnessed a sea of humanity. People in thousands thronged the venue of the rally in a rare show of solidarity with their leader. The rally passed off peacefully as planned by AIMIM units throughout the nation on Friday.

On Thursday, as the news of the unfortunate gun attack on Asaduddin Owaisi’s convoy of four vehicles surfaced, the old city of Hyderabad plunged into shock and dismay. Several shops lowered their shutters and black flags and party flags were seen at many places in protest against the incident.

Imtiyaz Jaleel, an AIMIM MP from Aurangabad, informed that members of the party will write to district magistrates and police commissioners of their respective localities requesting a full-fledged investigation into the incident as also high-level protection for Owaisi’s future rallies in Uttar Pradesh.

The car of Asaduddin Owaisi was fired at by some unidentified assailants on the highway near Chhajarsi Toll in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. The incident took place when the AIMIM supremo was on his way to Delhi after a poll rally in Meerut.

While no one was injured, Owaisi’s car tyres were punctured. The MP left the area in another car.

The attack comes days after Hindutva monks in Allahabad made incendiary speeches against Muslims as they targeted Owaisi for his remarks critical of the UP Police.#

Meanwhile, the Centre sanctioned ‘Z’ category security for Owaisi. According to sources, the government reviewed the security of the Hyderabad MP before taking the decision to accord him ‘Z’ category security with immediate effect. With this, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be responsible for providing cover to him.