Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Monday implored Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi to accept the Z category security granted to him by the Centre in light of the attack that took place on the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief on February 3.

“The threat to Owaisi has been reassessed and a bulletproof vehicle and Z category security has been given to him. But, as per verbal info by himself, he has refused to accept it. I request him to accept the security given to him by the Central govt,” Shah told the Rajya Sabha as per news agency ANI.

Shah also provided an update on the ongoing probe into the attack on Owaisi, saying, “There were no leads or tip-offs about such an attack. On examining the spot, two were arrested and police recovered a car and two pistols. The forensic team is probing the incident and the two men are being questioned by the Uttar Pradesh Police.”

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Shah’s comments come days after the Hyderabad MP publicly refused to accept the Z category security offered to him by the Centre in the wake of the attack.

Speaking after the attack at the Lok Sabha, the four-time MP from Hyderabad said, “I am not afraid of death. All of us have to leave this world someday. I was born in this country. When my mother gave birth to me, I was put down on the floor. When I close my eyes too, I will be buried here. I don’t want the Z category category. I have been in politics since 1994. I want to live freely. If I want to live, I want to raise my voice. If I get shot for this, I will accept it.”

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The 52-year-old had also called for the use of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against those who attacked him, saying, “I want to be an A-category citizen, at par with you all. Why was UAPA not invoked against those who fired at me? …I want to live, to speak. My life will be safe when the poor are safe. I will not get scared of those who shot at my car.”

The attack on Owaisi took place on February 3 in Hapur in western Uttar Pradesh, when the 52-year-old was on his way back to Delhi after campaigning in the state for the upcoming polls.

Since then, two men have been arrested in connection with the attack and are being interrogated by the police for further leads.