Slogan Row: MP Assembly Passes Censure Motion Against Owaisi

File photo of AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi. (Photo: PTI)

The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a censure motion against AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi for his refusal to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.

Congress member Jitu Patwari brought the censure motion slamming Owaisi during the Zero Hour of the budget session of the MP Assembly.

Condemning the AIMIM leader’s comments, Patwari referred to Jawaharlal Nehru’s immense respect for the country.

He said that Nehru, in his book, Discovery of India mentions his love for the country and touched upon the rich and diversified cultures describing it as ‘Mother India’.

He said that his party is against any sort of fundamental mindset – be it of Hindu, Muslim, Christian and any other religion.

MP Legislative Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra seconded Patwari’s censure motion and condemned Owaisi saying that such type of anti-national mentality is being noticed since the last one and a half years.

India has loved and respected both “Ram and Rahim” equally and has been against people sympathising with divisive forces.

Narottam Mishra, MP Legislative Affairs Minister

Congress member Jitu Patwari (Photo: Jitu Patwari’s Facebook page)

Mishra also hit out at those protesting Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s hanging. He said that even the anti-national acts at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus should be condemned along with Owaisi.

MP Panchayat Minister Gopal Bhargava also joined in condemning Owaisi and tried taking a dig at the Congress.

But Speaker Sitasaran Sharma sensing a tussle between the treasury and opposition Congress got up and announced the passing of censure motion unanimously against AIMIM leader amid chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” by members including Congress’ Patwari and Hardeep Singh Dang.

On 13 March, Owaisi had said he will not chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” comments that came against the backdrop of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s suggestion that the new generation needed to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India.