However, Asaduddin Owaisi defended his remarks while talking to reporters outside Parliament.
New Delhi:
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi's remarks after taking oath as a Lok Sabha member sparked a major political controversy today. After his oath – which he took in Urdu – he expressed solidarity with the conflict-torn Palestinian Territory, praised his home state of Telangana and raised the slogan of AIMIM for Muslims.
The sentence by the five-time MP from Hyderabad drew strong reactions from members of the treasury benches, prompting the chair to remove it from the official record.
BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh, then the presiding officer, assured the members that no statement would be recorded beyond the formal oath-taking. Pro Team Speaker Bhartohari Mehtab also confirmed that officially only the oath or affirmation is being noted.
Mr Owaisi, however, defended his remarks while speaking to reporters outside Parliament: “Other members are also saying different things. I said 'Jai Bheem, Jai Mem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine', how is that wrong?” Constitution You should also listen to what I said, what Mahatma Gandhi said about Palestine.
When asked why he mentioned Palestine, Mr. Owaisi explained that “they are an oppressed people”.
BJP sources claimed that Mr. Owaisi could be disqualified for “showing support for a foreign state, namely Palestine.”
Meanwhile, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje has written to the home minister's office objecting to his speech and demanding action in the matter. He also requested the pro tem speaker to ask Mr. Owaisi to take oath once again.
In a similar incident in the Rajya Sabha earlier this year, AAP's Swati Maliwal was directed by the chairman to take the oath again because she shouted slogans while taking the oath.
Mr. Owaisi was among the rest of the Members of Parliament who took oath today, out of a total of 262 newly elected Members of Parliament, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who did so on Monday at the inaugural session of the 18th Lok Sabha. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also took the oath today holding a copy of the constitution in his hand.
The new controversy comes on the heels of the ongoing controversy over the name of the Lok Sabha Speaker. BJP's efforts to reach a consensus on the reappointment of Om Birla as Speaker failed this morning as the Indian bloc decided to nominate eight-time MP Suresh for the post.
Traditionally, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha are elected by consensus between the ruling party and the opposition.