Owaisi booked for not chanting Bharat Mata slogan

Hyderabad - "Based on the complaint, a case was registered against Owaisi," the Circle Inspector P Sadanandam said.

The Telangana police have registered a case against the firebrand Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi for his controversial remark that he would not chant the slogan Bharat Mata ki Jai even if a "knife is put to my throat".
Following a complaint by a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activist and advocate B Mahender Reddy, the local police in Karimnagar town registered a case against Owaisi under IPC sections 153 (A & B) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and race). In his complaint, the BJP activist alleged that MIM leader's "defamatory" speech would "promote enmity between different groups".
"Based on the complaint, a case was registered against Owaisi," the Circle Inspector P Sadanandam said. While addressing a rally at Udgir in Maharashtra earlier this week, Owaisi had said he would not chant the slogan Bharat Mata Ki Jai. "I don't chant that slogan. What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahib?" the Hyderabad member of parliament had said. He was referring to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that the new generation needed to be inculcated values of respect and veneration and taught to hail "Mother India".
Owaisi alleged that RSS, the Hindu right wing organisation, was using Bharat Mata ki jai as an emotive issue in a bid to promote ghar wapsi (re-conversion to Hinduism).
"I am not against Hinduism but will fight Hindutva," he said.
Owaisi also lambasted Congress for backing the suspension of his party MLA Waris Pathan in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and adoption of the censure motion in Madhya Pradesh House on Saturday against his refusal to chant the slogan Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
The MP pointed out that the constitution guarantees the freedom of expression, freedom of religion and protection of cultural rights of minorities.
"I also accept that it was also part of popular slogans during freedom struggle. But why do you keep on insisting me to chant it now? The Bharatiya Janata Party and Sangh Parivar have a different understanding when they talk about that slogan. That is you have to pray to the country...You have to pray to the deity. No one can put this question to me. I don't pray to the country but I am a loyal citizen and fundamental rights in the Constitution guarantees me," Owaisi said.
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