New Delhi [India], March 18 (ANI): AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Assadudin Owaisi told reporters questioned the statements given by ministers on the issue of Aurangzeb's grave and said that the violence in Nagpur was a result of intelligence failure.

'I condemn the violence, but one should look at the total (picture), the statements given by ministers, even given right now. They should follow the rule of law, they have taken an oath on India's constitution, so how can you say provocative statements? This is really wrong, it is the responsibility and fault of the government, an intelligence failure. This happened near a minister's house too,' he said.

Owasi also alleged that just before violence broke out in certain parts of Nagpur on Monday night, there were alleged incidents of Quran verses being burned in the area, which was immediately reported by Muslims and Hindus alike, but no action was taken.

'The verses of Quran, which were written on a cloth were burned, and when this incident happened the Muslims and Hindus of the area complained to the DCP, urging him to stop this but no action was taken. Then in the evening this incident happened (Nagpur violence),' Owaisi told reporters on the premises of Parliament.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Imran Masood held the state government responsible for the violence, saying that people are being made to fight against each other and demanding action against the people involved irrespective of religion.

'The government is responsible for it. Unfortunately, the people are made to fight against each other under the protection of the government. The CM should take action against those who are behind it, irrespective of their religion. New stories are being fabricated based on the past. This is not in the country's favour,' Masood told ANI.

Earlier, while speaking in the Maharashtra legislative assembly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the violence 'looks like a well-planned attack' and that certain rumours were spread that religious verses were burnt as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal protested in the winter capital of the state.

'In Nagpur, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal held protests. Rumours were spread that things containing religious content were burnt...It looks like a well-planned attack. No one has permission to take law and order into their hands,' Fadnavis said while addressing the assembly.

Apprising about the injuries sustained by police personnel, he stated that attacks on police would not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against those involved in violence. He said that three Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) sustained injuries, and one DCP was attacked with an axe.

He also said that the complaint of a muslim delegation was received by the police and that action was being taken.

A curfew was imposed in multiple areas of Nagpur city under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) following tensions over the demand to remove Aurangzeb's grave. According to the official order issued by Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, the restrictions will remain in place until further notice.

The curfew applies to police station limits in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar. (ANI)