New Delhi: In his speech during the no-confidence motion debate in Lok Sabha, the All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi had several questions for Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
First, why had “750 Muslim-owned” structures been allegedly bulldozed in Haryana’s Nuh in the aftermath of communal clashes in the district; second, why were Bilkis Bano’s rapists released from prison early; third, why had the Modi government created an “atmosphere of hatred against Muslims” in India; and when will China and cow-vigilante Monu Manesar “quit India”?
Attacking the treasury benches’ use of the “quit India” slogan in reference to the alleged corruption and dynastic rule under the UPA government, Owaisi said that it is people like Monu Manesar who should quit India.
“Our home minister (Amit Shah) was talking about ‘quit India’ yesterday. I wonder if he knows that the phrase was coined by a Muslim. If he does get to know, he will not use this phrase,” said Owaisi.
“I want to say that the kind of politics you (the central government) are doing will harm the country. I want to ask the PM if Hindutva is more important than the country…. You are saying ‘quit India’, why don’t you say ‘quit India China’ or ‘quit India Monu Manesar’. Have you forgotten about Kulbhushan Jadhav? He is in Pakistan. Have you forgotten the eight Indian Navy officers in jail in Qatar for a year? If you want to say quit India, then we have to say China quit India, gau rakshak quit India, Monu darling quit India.”
The AIMIM chief also said that an “atmosphere of hate” was being created in the country and blamed it for the violence in Nuh and the shooting of four passengers on a train in Maharashtra by a Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable.
On the train incident, Owaisi said: “Recently, a uniformed constable killed his senior because he saw a beard on him. He went from car to car of the train he was on and after asking their names and seeing a beard on someone, killed people. He said, ‘if you want to live in this country, you’ll have to vote for Modi’. I want to ask the prime minister, is this not an example of extremism and radicalism? If it is, what do you plan to do about it? Our Constitution mentions ‘liberty of conscience’. I want to ask the ruling government and the PM, where is your conscience?”
Questioning the communal violence and subsequent demolition of Muslim-owned buildings in Nuh, he asked why the government had not followed due process before bulldozing the houses and shops in the Muslim-dominated district.
“Around 750 houses were demolished without due process simply because they belonged to Muslims, and were completely legal structures. So much so that the Punjab and Haryana High Court called it an ‘ethnic cleansing’,” he said.
“There’s an atmosphere of hate in this country against Muslims. Is this the achievement of the Modi government’s nine years?” he added.
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On Manipur, Bilkis Bano, China & more
Talking about ongoing violence in Manipur, Owaisi asked, “A case has been registered against the Assam Rifles, what has been done about that? Where is your conscience where the women in Manipur are raped? You don’t want to remove the chief minister of the state from his post because you say he is ‘cooperating’.
He even recited a couplet to drive home his point, “Kursi hai tumhara janazaa toh nahi, kuchh kar nahi sakte toh utar kyun nahi jaate” (this is your chair and not your funeral, if you are unable to do anything, vacate it).
Targeting the government for creating hatred against a particular community, the AIMIM chief said, “finance minister talked about Draupadi, even a DMK MP talked about her. I want to ask, is Bilkis Bano not a daughter of this country? Bilkis Bano was raped, she was pregnant, her mother and daughter were killed, and you had the murderers and rapists released? Is this your conscience? You are following majoritarian politics.”
Talking about China, Owaisi said that in 2013, Modi had said that the problem is “not at the border, but in Delhi”. “Now, China is sitting on our land. The PM invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to Ahmedabad, but what has come of it? The PM should speak on this issue,” he said.
Owaisi also lashed out at the government over the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the recent scientific survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
“In 1991, the Place of Worship (Special Provisions) Act was passed. Under this, it was said that past incidents cannot be brought up to disturb houses of worship. But you are. I’m warning you, don’t take this country down a street of hate,” he said.
Emphasising that the UCC is looking to reduce India to “one culture, one religion and one language”, he called it “the formula of a dictator”.
“India is a bouquet of culture, a mosaic,” he said.
Pointing out that the minority welfare budget had been reduced by 40 per cent, leading to about “1,80,000 Muslims disappearing from the higher education system”.
He also asked why there wasn’t even a single Muslim minister in the cabinet despite the ruling BJP’s “show of love” towards Pasmanda Muslims. “You are doing politics of appeasement. You are doing politics of religion, which will harm the country,” he said.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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