All India Majlis Ittehad Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday sparked controversy by ending his swearing-in in the 18th Lok Sabha with the slogan “Jai Palestine”. Owaisi, who was re-elected Member of Parliament from the Hyderabad parliamentary constituency, took the oath in Urdu and concluded with slogans of 'Jai Bheem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine'. Follow live updates on Lok Sabha session.
The unexpected inclusion of “Jai Palestine” immediately drew objections from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs, including Shobha Karandlaje. Radha Mohan Singh, who presided over the swearing-in ceremony, announced that the controversial slogan would be expunged from official records.
Despite Singh's assurance, the BJP MPs continued their protest for some time.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy later criticized Owaisi's slogan, calling it “totally wrong”.
“It is against the rules of the House. He does not say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' while in India… People should understand that he does unconstitutional things while in the country,” Reddy told ANI. .
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In response to the uproar, Owaisi defended his choice of words, questioning the basis of objections by BJP members.
“Other members are also saying different things… I said 'Jai Bheem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine', how is that wrong? Tell me the provision of the Constitution?” [that I violated]. You should also listen to what others have to say. I said what had to be done. Read what Mahatma Gandhi had to say about Palestine,” Owaisi said.
Owaisi, who has emerged as a powerful Muslim voice in the country in recent years, defeated his BJP rival Madhavi Latha by a huge margin of 3.38 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha elections, a testament to his iron grip. is seen on Owaisi family on the old city.
Undeterred by criticism that he is the “B-team of the BJP”, Owaisi has been making efforts to expand the party's footprint across the country, despite limited success.
Owaisi, an ally of BJP and RSS, has been vocal in his opposition to CAA, NRC and NPR.