Won’t invoke ‘Bharat Mata’ even at knifepoint: Asaduddin Owaisi

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has rekindled the controversy over the nationalism debate by saying he would not say Bharat mata ki jai even at knifepoint.

Speaking at a public rally in Udgir tehsil of Latur district on Sunday evening, Mr Owaisi attacked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. “I want to ask Mohan Bhagwat sahab of RSS .He said in Nagpur that there are people in this country who don’t say Bharat mata ki jai. I don’t say Bharat mata ki jai. What will you do ”

As the crowd cheered and applauded him, Mr Owaisi further said, “I won’t utter say that even if you put a knife to my throat. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that one must say Bharat mata ki jai.” The AIMIM leader also said that he would continue to support Ishrat Jahan even though the government now claims that she was a terrorist.

Reacting to Mr Owaisi’s comments, Maharashtra finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “I only pray that Allah gives him good sense. Freedom of speech does not mean that one can speak any nonsense.”

Shiv Sena even demanded police action against Mr Owaisi for making inflammatory statements. “If Mr Owaisi does not want to say Bharat mata ki jai then he should go to Pakistan,” Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra environment minister Ramdas Kadam said.

Speaking at a function at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on March 3, Mr Bhagwat had reportedly said that the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India.