Asaduddin Owaisi says hijab-wearing woman can one day lead India

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said a hijab-clad woman could one day become India’s prime minister, citing constitutional equality. The remark drew criticism from the BJP, which accused him of making irresponsible statements and presenting half-truths

Mumbai: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said a hijab-clad woman would one day become India’s prime minister as the country’s Constitution accords equal status to people from all communities, unlike that of Pakistan, which restricts top constitutional posts to a single community.

His remark drew a sharp reaction from the ruling BJP, which said that through his “irresponsible” statement, the Hyderabad MP was presenting half-truths as Muslim women do not want to wear the hijab.

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Addressing a public meeting on Friday in Maharashtra’s Solapur ahead of the January 15 civic polls, Owaisi said, “India’s Constitution accords equal status to people of all communities, unlike Pakistan’s Constitution, which restricts the country’s top constitutional posts to members of a single community.” He added that he may not be alive to see it, but the day would come in the future when a woman wearing a hijab would become India’s prime minister.

Responding to this, BJP MP Anil Bonde said Owaisi was making irresponsible statements and accused him of presenting half-truths.

Stating that women in Iran were protesting against the hijab, Bonde claimed that Muslim women did not want it as nobody wanted subjugation.

He also alleged that a demographic imbalance was emerging in India and called for Hindu unity.