Owaisi Criticizes Religious Freedom, Cow Vigilantism in Lok Sabha

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi: In a fiery speech in the Lok Sabha, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the status of religious freedom in India, particularly focusing on the treatment of Muslim women and the rise of cow vigilantism.

Owaisi pointed out the disconnect between constitutional promises and reality, referencing Article 25, which guarantees religious freedom. "Article 25 talks about professing one's religion freely. Today, my daughters are being stopped from wearing the hijab in government institutions. So, how successful has that professing been?" Owaisi asked, highlighting the ongoing debate around hijab bans in various educational institutions.

He also condemned the growing incidents of violence linked to cow vigilantes in states like Haryana and Rajasthan. "In these states, cow vigilantes have been granted police-like powers. These powers have been misused for mob lynching," Owaisi remarked. He cited the tragic deaths of Sabir Malik from Bengal, who was beaten to death over accusations of beef consumption (later found to be untrue), and the horrific burning alive of Junaid and Nasir, as examples of such abuse of power.

Owaisi further questioned the motivations behind the politicization of historical religious symbols and sites. "Today, I am being asked if there was a mosque 500 years ago. If I dig this Parliament and find something, will it become mine?" he said, criticizing efforts to rewrite history for political gain.

His comments have sparked fresh debate on the issues of religious intolerance, mob violence, and historical revisionism in India, with Owaisi calling for a reaffirmation of the constitutional principles of equality and religious freedom.

Owaisi's remarks are seen as a direct challenge to the current government’s stance on religious freedoms, and his speech is expected to fuel further discussions on how India's secular fabric is being impacted by the rise of religiously charged politics