Mumbai: AIMIM legislator Waris Pathan, who was suspended from Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday, remained defiant regarding his stand that he would not say ‘Bharat mata ki jai’.
Terming the suspension as “the murder of democracy”, Mr Pathan said he and his party were only resisting the RSS’ attempts to impose their ideology on others.
“I do not need to prove my nationalism and patriotism to anyone, including the RSS. I am a proud Indian and I wish to die in this country. I proudly say ‘Jai Hind’ and ‘Hindustan Zindabad’. But, I will not say ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ because RSS chief Mohan Bhagwant wants me to say so,” Mr Pathan said, while speaking to this newspaper.
Read: Maharashtra Assembly suspends AIMIM MLA for not saying 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'
According to Mr Pathan, legislators from the BJP and Shiv Sena kept provoking him on the issue and action was taken against him even though he did not say anything “on record” of the House proceedings.
According to the House proceedings, a statement of a legislator is taken on record only after his microphone is switched on after the Speaker allows him to speak.
“The ruling party legislators kept on provoking us. It is true that I reacted to their provocation and said that I will not say ‘Bharat mata ki jai’, but I will say ‘Jai Hind’. But even that was not on record. Still I was suspended and was not given an opportunity to give an explanation. It was murder of democracy,” Mr Pathan said. Mr Pathan said that he had requested the Speaker to revoke his suspension, as he has not violated any rule or used any unparliamentary words.
Read: Cyberabad cops told to book Asaduddin Owaisi
Mr Pathan said that he had complete backing of his leader. He said, “I spoke to Mr Owaisi after the incident. Our party stands by what we have said.” Later, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi too said the suspension will set wrong precedent.
Islam scholars to take call on slogan
Noted Islamic scholar and President of Islamic Academy for Comparative Religion Asifuddin Muhammad said whether a Muslim can say ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ or not, shall be decided by scholars of Islam.
Referring to growing controversy on the issue of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, he said “If there is a dialogue or discussion on religious matters between communities, it should be carried out in a friendly environment between top scholars of both communities. Political entities should abstain from interfering as it is in the best interest of the country.”
He opined that the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh has understood that their government in the Center has failed in several fronts like economy, industrial growth, defence, JNU, Vijay Mallya, Jat agitation and so on. They urgently need to divert national attention from their failures to their pet subjects of hate. Mohan Bhagawat’s statement is designed to meet the same goal. His aggressive demand has met an equally aggressive response from Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi which may only escalate the issue.
He said, “Our country is facing economic slow down for two years and can’t afford to go through another round of tensions between communities. Javed Akhtar is trying some fire fighting but calling a three-time MP, Asaduddin Owaisi a mohalla leader is totally wrong.”
He said retiring as Rajya Sabha member, noted film lyricist personality Javed Akhtar has no authority to teach Muslims what they have to do and what not to do ,as he already declared that he doesn’t practice Islam.
Meanwhile, Seeking action against AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi RSS in Jammu said those who do not consider India as their 'motherland' should leave the country.
