All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that people of only one religion (Hindu priests) were taken inside the new parliament building during the inauguration. He argued that religious leaders of other faiths should also have been invited as PM Modi represents 130 crore people of the country. “PM took people of only one religion inside the New Parliament building (during inauguration). He should have taken people of all religions as he is the PM of 130 crore people of India and not only of Hindus,” said Asaduddin Owaisi to news agency ANI.
This is not the first time Owaisi expressed his displeasure over the issue. On Sunday, May 29, Owaisi, while addressing a public meeting in Adilabad town of Telangana criticised PM Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament and said that the event seemed like the “coronation of a Sultan of Delhi” as there was no representation of people of other faiths.
“The opening of new Parliament building happened. I saw on TV, Prime Minister was going inside the Parliament and 18-20 Hindu pujaris are following him (inside the Parliament) chanting mantras. Prime Minister, you took only the Hindu pujaris. Why did the Prime Minister not take Christian pastor, Muslim maulana and religious leaders of other religions inside (the new Parliament)?” the Hyderabad MP asked, as reported by PTI.
“Prime Minister, India does not have a single religion. India follows every religion. It is regrettable that the PM took religious leaders of only one faith into the new Lok Sabha. I wish you were big-hearted to also take Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, and Jains (religious leaders) inside,” Owaisi said.
“It did not seem like opening of new Parliament building but looked like the coronation of the Sultan of Delhi. Is this secularism of India? Prime Minister should not have done this. Mr Modi, you are the Prime Minister of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, tribals and Prime Minister of 130 crore people. You are not Prime Minister of any single religion,” Owaisi further said.
The new Parliament was inaugurated on Sunday in a grand celebration that included a havan, a multi-faith prayer ceremony and the installation of the Sengol (sceptre) in a special enclosure in the Lok Sabha chamber.