RSS raised slogan issue for ghar wapsi': Asaduddin Owaisi
Mr Owaisi said he had always been against Hindutva and not against Hinduism.
Hyderabad: MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday accused the RSS of raising the issue of “Bharat Mata ki jai” in a bid to promote “ghar wapsi” while clarifying that he wasn’t against “Hinduism” but “Hindutva”.
He also attacked the Congress for backing suspension of his party MLA in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and adoption of the censure motion in Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Friday for his refusal to chant the slogan.
“RSS’ game-plan is nothing but to try to implement what (Hindutva ideologue) Savarkar said in his book on Hindutva. When I made that statement (refusal to chant the slogan), I knew this is what RSS wants to do,” the MP told PTI here. Mr Owaisi said he had always been against Hindutva and not against Hinduism.
“Even Savarkar says in his book that Hindutva is different and Hinduism is different. Basically, this (raising the slogan issue) is nothing but RSS, by insisting on saying this slogan, this (the issue) is being used and abused for ghar wapsi,” he alleged. The MP said no Muslim in the world would pray to his country.
“But I am a loyal citizen (of India), I don’t pray to Saudi Arabia despite it having the two holiest places for any Muslim. I don't pray to the country but I pray to Allah but I am a loyal citizen of this country. This whole argument...oh! this man (Owaisi) is anti-national... no. I don't pray to my country but I love my country; I am loyal to my country,” he said.
He said Constitution guarantees the freedom of expression, freedom of religion and protection of cultural rights of minorities.