NAGPUR — AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday slammed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his assertion on the religious identity of India’s leadership, stating that it reflects his “Pakistani thinking”.
This came as CM Sarma, on Saturday, said that while the Constitution does not restrict anyone from becoming the Prime Minister, the country’s civilisational ethos would ensure that the post remains with a Hindu.
Speaking to IANS, Owaisi said, “His mind is like a tubelight. He took an oath on the Constitution. Where in the Constitution is this written? Himanta Biswa Sarma’s thinking reflects that of Pakistan’s, where the Constitution allows only a person from a particular community to become Prime Minister or President. In contrast, the Constitution of India, framed by Dr B.R. Ambedkar, is far more inclusive and thoughtful.”
“It is unfortunate that some people neither understand the Constitution nor its spirit. India does not belong to any single community; its beauty lies in the fact that even those who do not follow any religion have a place here. Such narrow-minded thinking reflects a petty mindset,” Owaisi added.
Addressing the media, Chief Minister Sarma had said there is “no constitutional bar” on who can occupy the highest executive office in the country.
“Anybody can become the Prime Minister of India,” he said, but added that India is essentially a Hindu civilisation and expressed confidence that the Prime Minister would always emerge from that civilisational framework.
These war of words broke out after the AIMIM chief, during a public meeting in Maharashtra’s Solapur ahead of the civic polls, had stated that a hijab-wearing woman will one day become the Prime Minister of the country. — With inputs from IANS
