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JALNA, MAHARASHTRA — The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday hit out at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for his statement that mob lynching was a western concept and it should not be used to defame India.
Addressing the Vijayadashmi function of the RSS at Reshimbagh ground in Nagpur, Bhagwat said lynching is a “western construct” and should not be used in the Indian context to defame the country.
He said the word ‘lynching’ does not originate from Indian ethos but comes from a separate religious text.
Reacting sharply to Bhagwat’s statement, AIMIM chief said Muslims, Dalits and even Hindus have been victims of incidents of mob lynching in the country.
Owaisi said “the victims were Indians” and alleged that Bhagwat was not saying to stop lynching.
“The victims were Indians. Who garlanded convicts? Who draped them in (tricolor)? We’ve a Godse loving BJP MP.
There cant be a bigger defamation of India than ideology that killed Gandhi/Tabrez (Ansari). Bhagwat isn’t saying stop lynching, he’s saying don’t call it that,” Owaisi tweeted.
The victims were Indians. Who garlanded convicts? Who draped them in 🇮🇳? We’ve a Godse loving BJP MP.
There can’t be a bigger defamation of India than ideology that killed Gandhi/Tabrez. Bhagwat isn’t saying stop lynching, he’s saying ‘don’t call it that’https://t.co/hHsnH61PKA
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 8, 2019
Speaking at an election rally in support of AIMIM candidate Iqbal Pasha at the Kalyanrao Ghugre Stadium in central Maharashtra, Owaisi also mentioned the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in New Delhi after assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and said they were also incidents of mob lynching.
The 2002 Gujarat riots were also examples of mob lynching and occurred when Narendra Modi was chief minister of the state, he further said.
Member of Lok Sabha from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi said perpetrators of mob lynching were “sons” of Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.
The AIMIM chief also lashed out at Bhagwat’s statement that the RSS is firm on its vision that “Bharat is a Hindu Rashtra”.
Asaduddin Owaisi in a tweet lambasted the idea of Hindu Rashtra.
The idea of Hindu Rashtra is based on Hindu supremacy. It means subjugation of anyone who isn’t Hindu. Minorities will only be ‘allowed’ to live in India
According to the Constitution we’re India i.e Bharat. Hindu Rashtra is a flight of fantasy borne out of insecurities https://t.co/dtmSQvetIf
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 9, 2019
Owaisi accused Bhagwat of having no faith in Indian democracy and ideals of chief Constitution-maker B R Ambedkar, who spoke about equality and justice.
The Hyderabad MP said the country is facing problems like farmer suicides, unemployment and price rise, but the BJP is busy raising emotional issues such as Article 370, Pakistan and Hindu-Muslims.
The AIMIM dubbed the Congress as a “sinking ship” whose captain (Rahul Gandhi) has abandoned it, according to PTI report.
Owaisi said the Shiv Sena appears hapless before the BJP in the state, where elections will be held on October 21.
On the issue of tree hacking in Aarey Colony in Mumbai, Owaisi referred to Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s statement that action will be taken in the matter when the saffron alliance is voted back to power.
“Why did the Sena not take action when it is still in power,” the Lok Sabha MP sought to know.
(With inputs from PTI)