Owaisi’s ‘Jai Palestine’ Chant Stirs Controversy

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi sparked a row on Tuesday following his remark after taking his oath as a Lok Sabha member. The Hyderabad MP took oath in Urdu after which he hailed the war-torn Palestine along with ‘Jai Bheem and Jai Telangana” slogans.

Owaisi’s comment drew sharp criticism triggering an uproar from the treasury benches. Responding to the calls for his removal and demands for an apology, Owaisi said, “Let them do whatever they want. I also know a little bit about the Constitution. These empty threats will not work for me”.

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When his comments caused a stir in the Lower House, Radha Mohan Singh, presiding over the House, reassured the members that only the oath or affirmation would be officially recorded.

The saffron party leaders came up stating that the Hyderabad MP could be disqualified as a member of Lok Sabha for “demonstrating adherence to a foreign state”. The head of the BJP IT cell shared a snippet of Article 102 of the Constitution and a video clip of Owaisi’s slogan. Article 102 outlines the grounds for disqualification as a Member of Parliament.

When the AIMIM leader was asked the reason for mentioning Palestine, Owaisi explained, “The people there are suffering. Mahatma Gandhi has expressed many sentiments regarding Palestine, which one can read about.”

Owaisi on his official handle on X posted on Tuesday, “Sworn in as a member of Lok Sabha for the fifth time. Inshallah, I will continue to raise issues of India’s marginalised with sincerity.”

After the objections from BJP MPs, Owaisi defended his act, telling the media outside the House that there was nothing wrong with saying, “Jai Bheem, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine”.

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“Other members are also saying different things… How is it wrong? Tell me the provision of the Constitution? You should also listen to what others said. I said what I had to. Read what Mahatma Gandhi had said about Palestine,” Owaisi said.

Asaduddin Owaisi, defeated BJP’s Madhavi Latha Kompella in a high-octane contest from Hyderabad in the recently concluded general election and took as the Lok Sabha MP for the fifth consecutive term on Tuesday.