Union Ministers Reddy, Rijiju target AIMIM’s Owaisi over his “Jai Palestine” remark

New Delhi [India], June 25 (ANI): After AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi took oath as a member of the Lok Sabha with the words “Jai Palestine”, Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Kiren Rijiju criticised Owaisi and condemned his statement.

Notably, while being sworn in as an MP in the 18th Session of the Lok Sabha, Owaisi ended his oath with the words, “Jai Bhim, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine.”

Targeting the AIMIM Chief, Union Minister for Coal and Mines Reddy said, “The slogan ‘Jai Palestine’ given by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi in Parliament today is wrong. This is against the rules of the House. He does not say ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ while living in India.”

The Telangana BJP President added further, “People should understand that he does unconstitutional work while living in the country.”

On the other hand, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that raising the slogan of praising another country while taking the oath is inappropriate. He said, “We do not have any enmity with Palestine or any other country. The issue is that while taking the oath, is it proper for any member to raise the slogan praising another country.”

Rijiju added further, “We have no problem with any other country but we will have to check the rules if it is appropriate. Some members have come to me and complained about raising Palestine’s slogan at the end of the oath.”

Earlier in the day, taking to his official X handle, Owaisi said, “Sworn in as a member of Lok Sabha for the fifth time. Inshallah, I will continue to raise issues of India’s marginalised with sincerity.”

Speaking with ANI, Owaisi spoke about his slogan of ‘Jai Palestine’ and said, “Everyone is saying a lot of things… I just said ‘Jai Bhim, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine’… How it is against, show the provision in the Constitution?”

On being asked the reason for saying ‘Jai Palestine’, Owaisi said, “Waha ki awaam mahroom hai (The people there are destitute). Mahatma Gandhi has said so many things regarding Palestine and one can go and read.”

Several Palestinians have been facing the brunt of the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.

On June 22, at least 25 people were killed and 50 others were injured in Israeli attacks on tents for displaced Palestinians in al-Mawasi, near Rafah, in the south of the coastal enclave, according to the Gaza health ministry, Al Jazeera reported.