BJP members created an uproar over Owaisi chanting ‘Jai Palestine’ slogans and demanded that it be expunged from the proceedings of the House….reports Asian Lite News
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi stoked a major controversy in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday during his swearing-in as the Member of Parliament (MP) by raising a slogan in favour of Palestine.
The Hyderabad lawmaker soon after taking oath as MP in the 18th Lok Sabha, chanted ‘Jai Palestine’ in the House, thereby inviting quick backlash from the treasury benches and also leading to chaos in the House.
BJP members created an uproar over Owaisi chanting ‘Jai Palestine’ slogans and demanded that it be expunged from the proceedings of the House.
Radha Mohan Singh, who was in the chair at the time, assured the members that nothing extra would go on record, except the oath ceremony. Prior to this, when he moved to the podium to take the oath, he was greeted by Jai Shri Ram slogans.
Kiren Rijiju, replying to questions on Owaisi’s Jai Palestine remarks during the oath ceremony, said: “We do not have any enmity with Palestine or any other country. While taking the oath, is it proper for any member to raise a slogan praising another country? We will have to check the rules if it is appropriate…”
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy also expressed reservations against Owaisi’s slogan and termed it “absolutely wrong”.
“On one hand, he is taking an oath in the name of the Constitution and, on the other, giving a slogan against the Constitution. The real face of Owaisi is out,” Kishan Reddy said.
According to reports, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje has also registered a formal complaint against Owaisi, seeking action against him for an insulting act.
Owaisi, remaining unrepentant over his conduct, also defended his remarks in hailing the conflict-ridden West Asian region and said: “Everyone is saying a lot of things… I just said ‘Jai Bhim, Jai Mim, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine’… how is it against the Constitution?
“Show me where this provision is there in the Constitution… You should also listen to what others said. I said what I had to,” he added.
Last year, when the war between Israel and Gaza broke out, the AIMIM leader had hit out at Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and described him as a ‘devil’.
Calls for disqualification
Several complaints have been filed before President Droupadi Murmu seeking immediate disqualification of Owaisi.
One of the complaints filed by Supreme Court lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava said that by publicly raising the pro-Palestine slogan ‘Jai Palestine’, that too in the Indian Parliament, Owaisi has clearly acknowledged his deep-rooted allegiance and adherence to a foreign country.
It added that Owaisi is liable to be forthwith disqualified from being a Member of Parliament, as per Article 102 (d) of the Constitution of India, which provides for disqualification for membership if a person is under “any acknowledgement of allegiance or adherence to a foreign State.”
“This is not the first time when Mr Owaisi has displayed his unequivocal loyalty, support and allegiance to the said foreign country ‘Palestine’. Rather, it is a matter of record that Mr. Owaisi has been exhibiting his consistent support, allegiance and adherence to the said foreign state for the last many years,” the complaint read.
Further, it said that if the action is not taken against Owaisi, then it will become a precedent and will have disastrous consequences for our nation and the Hyderabad lawmaker be disqualified in the interest of the integrity and unity of Bharat.
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