Owaisi's NIA accusation frivolous: Rijiju
Owaisi had earlier accused the NIA of targeting muslims, asking why there is a delay in investigation of cases with non-muslim accused.
New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has rubbished All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin's Owaisi remarks accusing the National Investigative Agency (NIA) of targeting Muslims.
"These are frivolous charges. The agencies do not know the religious background of any person involved in any crime. They are impartial. You can't attach religious identity in terms of any criminal investigation," Rijiju said.
Owaisi on Monday took to Twitter to lash out at the NIA for targeting a single community. His reaction came a day after the verdict in the Dilsukhnagar bomb blast case was announced.
He raised the question of a delay in the investigation of cases such as the Mecca Masjid blast, Ahmer Dargah blast, Malegaon blasts etc.
"Why can't our premier investigation agencies show same urgency to convict all alleged terrorist cases Demolition Babri Masjid pending since 92 (sic)," he tweeted.
Accusing the NIA of being partial and showing an inclination towards a conviction of a particular religious group, Owaisi tweeted, "Do not be surprised the way NIA is pursuing those Bomb Blast cases where accused are Non Muslims they will be exonerated bcos of Ache Din (sic)?"
A special NIA court on Monday awarded death penalty to five operative of the terrorist group Indian Mujahideen (IM) in the 2013 Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case.
The IM members almost simultaneously detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) near the Dilsukhnagar bus stop on February 21, 2013, killing 21 and injuring 107.