Akbaruddin Owaisi & His “15 Minutes” Nostalgia Tour: The Revival of a 2012 Classic

The crowd, apparently fans of his earlier work, erupted with applause. Some even chanted back, “15 minutes, 15 minutes!” For Owaisi, it was clear his controversial words had left a lasting impression—and he wasn’t about to let them fade quietly into history.

A Classic Hit from Akbaruddin Owaisi

Akbaruddin Owaisi gave a 2012 speech packed all the elements of a scandalous blockbuster. Standing before an audience in Hyderabad, Akbaruddin Owaisi issued a challenge steeped in communal overtones. “Remove the police for 15 minutes,” he declared, as if proposing an intriguing social experiment. He then taunted Hindu deities, scoffing at Hindu gods and questioning their consistency across India’s diverse regions. He took a swipe at then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi, openly mocking the idea that Modi could one day lead the nation.

“And people are scaring Muslims by saying Modi is here,” he scoffed in 2012. “Modi who? Where did he come from? Dare to come to Hyderabad for one time, and we will show you.” Akbaruddin Owaisi also took a potshot at Taslima Nasreen, implying she had vanished without a trace due to Muslim objections. Owaisi reveled in this rhetorical playground, with cheers from the crowd, who seemed captivated by his masterclass in provocation.

“15 Minutes” Rewind: Owaisi’s Acquittal and Audience Encore

Despite widespread condemnation, Owaisi’s 2012 tirade led to two hate speech charges that lingered for years. Yet, in a twist that even Owaisi might not have anticipated, the Hyderabad court acquitted him in 2022. He may have found it ironic—or even amusing—that the legal system brushed off his inflammatory speech, practically handing him a green light to continue his rhetoric.

With this acquittal, Owaisi seemed to treat his 2024 revival of the “15 minutes” line as an open invitation to revisit his most notorious controversies. For many in the crowd, this felt like déjà vu in the best possible way—a chance to relive that bold 2012 moment. The approving chants echoed his innuendo, as if they were watching their favorite actor reprise a role in a legendary sequel.

The Political Appeal of Controversy Akbaruddin Owaisi

For a public figure like Owaisi, it seems, provocation isn’t just a strategy; it’s a brand. With a nod to his “greatest hits,” he has found a way to tap into a particular brand of communal nostalgia, rallying audiences with a mix of humor and hostility that’s sure to stir reactions.

Akbaruddin Owaisi: License to Incite?

Owaisi’s willingness to evoke past inflammatory remarks raises questions about the balance between free speech and responsibility. At what point does a public figure’s rhetoric cross from the realm of opinion into incitement? And how far can nostalgia for controversial statements go before it becomes genuinely dangerous?

Whether this latest rally was a carefully calculated move or simply a trip down memory lane, one thing is clear: Akbaruddin Owaisi knows how to keep the audience engaged—even if it means dusting off some of his most controversial lines. And as he’s shown, he isn’t about to let a little thing like communal harmony get in the way of an encore performance.