New Delhi: Asaduddin Owaisi, President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, criticized successive governments at the Center, stating that despite 75 years of independence, nothing has changed for Muslims in India. In a speech to the Lok Sabha on December 14, Owaisi highlighted the continued marginalization of Muslims and their exclusion from political power.
Speaking during the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, Owaisi argued that the constitutionally protected rights of minorities are being undermined, with the current government failing to address their concerns. He accused the Narendra Modi administration of attempting to seize Waqf properties and violating fundamental rights.
Owaisi quoted Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s 1947 memorandum on the rights of minorities, where Ambedkar warned of the “Divine Right of the Majority” to rule over minorities, a sentiment Owaisi believes is still relevant today. “What Ambedkar said 75 years ago is absolutely correct. No one wants minorities to share power,” Owaisi said.
The MP also pointed to the manner in which parliamentary and assembly constituencies are structured to favor the majority community, making it difficult for Muslims to win elections. He referenced the Sachar Committee’s recommendations on rationalizing constituency delimitation to ensure better representation for Muslims but expressed doubts about the implementation of these recommendations after the next census.
Owaisi further emphasized the absence of reservations for Muslims, despite the implementation of such provisions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other marginalized groups. He also discussed the ongoing challenges faced by Muslims, citing historical and recent riots, including the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, the Gujarat 2002 riots, and the Delhi 2022 riots, asserting that little has changed in terms of protection for Muslim lives.
In his speech, Owaisi criticized the recent bans on wearing the hijab in government institutions and the state laws restricting food choices, calling them a violation of Article 25, which guarantees the right to freely practice religion. He also condemned the growing incidents of mob lynchings and the unlawful empowerment of cow vigilantes.
Owaisi raised concerns about the false claims being made about mosques and dargahs, questioning the legitimacy of such claims. He also accused the Modi government of attempting to take over Waqf properties, citing Article 26, which guarantees religious denominations the right to establish and maintain religious and charitable institutions.
The MP further criticized the BJP for promoting Hindutva culture at the expense of India’s pluralistic heritage and accused the party of undermining the Urdu language, which holds historical significance in the freedom struggle. “BJP speaks about cultural nationalism. It is the cultural nationalism of upper castes, of Hindutva, which has no connection with Indian culture,” Owaisi concluded.
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