All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi ignited a political firestorm with a bold prediction about India's future leadership. During an election rally, he stated that a woman wearing a hijab would one day become the Prime Minister of India.
Constitutional Equality vs. Religious Restriction
Owaisi made his controversial remarks on Friday, January 12, at a campaign event in Solapur district, Maharashtra. The rally was held ahead of the civic polls scheduled for January 15. The Hyderabad MP drew a direct comparison between the constitutions of India and Pakistan to make his point.
He emphasized that the Pakistani Constitution restricts the offices of Prime Minister and President to followers of a single religion. In contrast, he credited Dr. B.R. Ambedkar for drafting an Indian Constitution that grants every citizen the right to aspire to the highest offices, including Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or Mayor.
"By the grace of Almighty, the day will come, when neither I nor the present generation will be around, but a daughter wearing a hijab would become the prime minister of India," Owaisi declared to the gathering.
BJP's Sharp Rebuttal and Challenge
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly condemned Owaisi's statement, labeling it as irresponsible. BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla issued a direct challenge to the AIMIM chief on social media platform X.
Poonawalla dared Owaisi to first appoint a 'Pasmanda' (backward class) Muslim or a hijab-wearing woman as the president of his own party, the AIMIM. This retort questioned the internal practices of Owaisi's party against his public pronouncements on equality.
BJP MP Anil Bonde accused Owaisi of peddling "half-truths." He argued that many Muslim women oppose the hijab, citing anti-hijab protests in Iran as evidence that women do not wish to be subjugated. Bonde also raised concerns about demographic shifts in India, calling for Hindu unity in response.
Broader Political Context of the Rally
Owaisi's rally in Solapur was not limited to this single prediction. He actively campaigned against the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, urging voters to reject candidates from the BJP, Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde), and the NCP (led by Ajit Pawar).
He also addressed the specific debate surrounding the mayoral post in Mumbai. The BJP has insisted that the city's next mayor must be both Marathi and Hindu. Owaisi dismissed this condition as a mere electoral tactic, devoid of constitutional backing.
The controversy underscores the ongoing and heated political discourse in India around religious identity, constitutional rights, and representation as the country moves through various electoral cycles.
