A significant disagreement broke out in Parliament following AIMIM President and MP Asaduddin Owaisi’s oath-taking ceremony for the 18th Lok Sabha, during which he ended his oath with, “Jai Bhim, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine.”
During his oath-taking on Tuesday, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, freshly elected for his fifth term from Hyderabad, concluded with a declaration “Jai Palestine” that sparked objections, particularly from those on the government benches. Owaisi, who delivered his oath in Urdu, preceded his formal oath with a prayer. He then saluted his home state of Telangana, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, and voiced the AIMIM slogan highlighting Muslim identity. Furthermore, he acknowledged a West Asian region embroiled in conflict, catching significant attention.
This mention led to an immediate uproar from certain parliament members, culminating in a stern response from Radha Mohan Singh, who presided over the session. Singh assured that any statement beyond the formal oath would not be officially recorded.
Despite the commotion, the session soon resumed under Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab. Mahtab reaffirmed the protocol, stating that the record would only include the oath or affirmation, urging members to refrain from adding any extraneous statements.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also weighed in on Owaisi’s remarks, emphasizing the absence of hatred towards Palestine or any other country. Rijiju questioned the appropriateness of praising another country during the oath-taking, hinting at a possible review of parliamentary rules regarding such matters.