Hyderabad: MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday said he did not oppose the national song Vande Mataram, but he is against it if it being forced on citizens. Mr Owaisi on Thursday was replying the questions posted on Twitter by users.
One questioner, Mr Jay, asked Mr Owaisi why he opposed the national song, supported Yakub Memon and remained silent on the Rohingya issue. Mr Owaisi replied “I don’t oppose the national Song; I oppose it being forced on citizens.”
On the Yakub Menon matter, he said, “Advocating equal application of law is completely different from supporting a convict.”
Asked why the national song not be imposed, Mr Owaisi siad, “Because we are a country governed by something called the Constitution,” In reply to a question, he said, “Regardless of any atmosphere, I will always say Jai Hind.”
Asked whether regional parties were doing enough towards protecting and asserting states’ interests for retaining federalism, he said, “Regional parties need to be more consistent in demanding a more expansive legislative and administrative field for states under Schedule VII. States are not mere units of administration. They are the basis of the Union.”
Mr Owaisi held the BJP and the Congress equally harmful for the democracy in India. He said there was “accelerated Hindutva (BJP)” and “slow motion Hindutva (Congress)”. “They are the same and they are equally harmful to the institution of democracy,” he said.
