Hyderabad, Dec 8 – In a parliamentary session, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi cautioned that forcing everyone to sing “Vande Mataram” would clash with India’s Constitution.
During the Lok Sabha discussion on the song, the Hyderabad MP stressed that singing the anthem should not be the only measure of patriotism. He reminded listeners that India achieved and continues to enjoy its independence because the nation never fused state power with religion.
Owaisi warned that treating “Vande Mataram” as a loyalty test would betray the ideals of Gandhi, Ambedkar, Tagore, Bose, and countless freedom fighters, and would instead align the country with “Godse”‑style Hindu nationalism. He likened India to a garden full of diverse flowers, arguing that trying to make just one bloom would turn the garden into a barren wasteland and would cast the gardener as a “jallad” (hangman).
He highlighted that the core of Islam is “tauheed” (the oneness of Allah) and reminded the audience that Article 25 guarantees Muslims rights. Owaisi cautioned that stripping people of freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship poses a real danger.
The politician clarified that being Muslim does not diminish one’s love for the country. “Being a Muslim does not come in the way of our love for the country. We love our country and will always love it,” he said, adding that those who were not part of the freedom struggle should not dictate what patriotism means.
Despite facing attacks on mosques, homes, clothing, and businesses, Owaisi affirmed that his community remains devoted to India and will never leave it. He slammed the speeches made during the debate, arguing that true patriotism demands the end of repression, poverty, exploitation, and unemployment, the restoration of peace and harmony, and the eradication of Pakistani terrorism.
“If you call Bharat a Devi, you are turning nationalism and patriotism into religion. It was said here that if one has to live in India, they have to recite “Vande Mataram”. This is against the Constitution and the orders of the Supreme Court,” he said, citing several judgments.
Owaisi also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks, noting that the party took a firm stance against Jinnah, which led the group to accept India as their homeland. He recalled that in 1942, the “beloved Veer and Jinnah’s party” had coalition governments in the Northwest Frontier, Bengal, and Sindh, and that they enlisted 150,000 Hindus and Muslims into the British Army.
The AIMIM chief took issue with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s comments, calling the references to “Ummul Momineen” and “Ummul Kitab” painful. “Ummul Momineen is the wife of our Prophet. We consider her our mother, but we don’t worship her. We do not worship our mother. Ummul Kitab is the Quran, but we don’t worship the Quran,” he explained.
He pointed out that the Constitution opens with “We the people,” not with “Bharat Mata.” The Preamble speaks of liberty of thought, expression, faith, belief, and worship. “When the very first page of the Constitution itself grants complete freedom of thought, expression, belief, religion, and worship, then how can any citizen be compelled to worship any god or deity, or to prostrate in reverence?” he questioned.
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