Is Modi govt of particular religion? Owaisi says democracy’s light ‘dimmest’

Is Modi govt of particular religion? Owaisi says democracy’s light ‘dimmest’

Hitting out at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said Saturday in the Lok Sabha that “the light of Indian democracy today is at its dimmest” and questioned if the government was of a particular religion or of the entire country.

Speaking during a discussion on the construction of the Ram temple, Owaisi said, “I want to ask if the Modi government is the government of a particular community, religion or the government of the entire country? Is the Modi government only of one religion and Hindutva? Does the government of India have a religion?”

He said he believed that the country does not have a religion. “Through 22nd January (consecration of Ram temple), does this government want to send a message that one religion triumphed over the other? Does the Constitution allow this?… What message do you give to the 17 crore Muslims in the country?”

He claimed that the Muslims were betrayed in 1949, 1986, 1992, 2019 and on January 22. “Despite so many betrayals,” Owaisi said, “am I a spokesperson of Babur, Jinnah or Aurangzeb?…”

“I respect Lord Ram but I hate Nathuram Godse because he killed the person whose last words were ‘Hey Ram’ …,” he said.

During his address, BJP member Nishikant Dubey asked him whether the AIMIM leader considers Babar as an invader or not. Owais replied, “What do you think of Pushyamitra Shunga? What does he think of the king of Jammu and Kashmir, who had an army to destroy temples?”

Owaisi emphasised that India today needs people like Maulana Ameer Ali, a Maulvi and Baba Ramcharan Das, a priest, both from Ayodhya, who fought against the British and laid down their lives.

He wondered that when the PM replies to the discussion, would he speak for 140 crore Indians or just those concerned about Hindutva.

Owaisi pointed out that the Modi government has announced Bharat Ratna would be conferred on BJP veteran leader L K Advani, who led the rath yatra and the then PM P V Narasimha Rao, who during Babri Masjid demolition asked his staff not to disturb him as he was busy worshipping. “This shows whether justice is done or injustice is being kept alive,” he said.

Owaisi also mentioned about the resolution passed by Lok Sabha on December 16, 1992, which “condemned the disintegration and demolition” of Ayodhya’s Babri Masjid on December 6. However, BJP’s Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the Chair, said there is no discussion about December 6. Agrawal said the discussion was on Ram temple which was constructed after the Supreme Court’s verdict.

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