'Constitution gives us sanctity': Asaduddin Owaisi slams Ravi Shankar Prasad for his comment on Muslims

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has termed as 'unfortunate' the statement of Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who stated that the centre have given Muslims 'proper sanctity'.

The AIMIM leader said it’s not Ravi Shankar Prasad who has given Muslims proper sanctity but our Constitution. Owaisi told ANI, "We gave them sanctity’ Who are ‘We'? It is the Constitution that has given rights, our rights are protected under that.”

Asserting that the Constitution is supreme, Owaisi said that Ravi Shankar’s work is to implement those constitutional rights. "In a democracy like India, we have got full freedom to choose our leaders. Ravi Shankar needs to understand that the Constitution is supreme,’ he added. 

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Saturday said that it is the government responsibility to take care of all citizens irrespective of the faiths they practiced. 

SP's Azam Khan told ANI, "Ideology and the Constitution are two different things. Those who are stick to the BJP ideology vote for them, those who are anti-BJP, vote for the opposition, but, it is the government’s responsibility to extend their support to each and every individual.’  Azam Khan said, "Who all have not voted for BJP, our government is not ready to take them as Hindu, then why would they take Muslims as Muslims."

Meanwhile, Congress leader Salman Khrushid said: “I see no reason why someone should feel that a particular segment of society is unable to vote for them.”

Khurshid added that he is unable to understand the statement ‘that even though they don’t vote us, we give them sanctity’. ‘We should see who does not vote for us and find why, and see if it can be addressed. Don't know from where has 'sanctity' come in,’ Khurshid added.

Resonating similar views, Congress leader Ashok Choudhary stated that speaking wrong about anyone’s caste and culture is not a correct statement.

‘To identify a person from his or her caste is wrong; we all have our own identity. Being in the government and speaking wrong about anyone’s caste and culture is not a correct statement. With these statements, peoples’ mind will get diverted,’ Choudhary told ANI.

Meanwhile BJP RS MP Subramanian Swamy told ANI, "He is correct and that is the correct constitutional procedure because once the election has taken place and you have got a mandate, then we are government of hundred percent people, that includes Muslims. So after that, we don't see who all have voted and who haven't. So what Ravi Shankar Prasad is saying is correct."

Prasad on Friday said Muslims do not vote for the BJP, but the government has given them "proper sanctity". "We have got 13 chief ministers of our own. We are ruling the country. Have we victimised any Muslim gentleman working in the industry or service? Have we dismissed them? We don't get Muslim votes. I acknowledge very clearly, but have we given them proper sanctity or not?" Prasad asked at the Mindmine Summit here.

He was responding to a question related to development having an impact on culture and diversity. "We salute diversity and culture of India. There are two ways of looking at it. Let me be very frank today. There has been campaign against us for a very long time, but today we are here because of blessings of people of India," Prasad said.

In recent Assembly elections, the BJP scored an impressive win in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The party also formed government in Goa and Manipur. Its main rival Congress was able to get a clear majority in Punjab  only. As IT minister, Prasad said, he has visited many Muslim-dominated villages where many Muslim youth are running Common Service Centres which help people avail of government services through Internet.

The minister cited the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi short-listing a Muslim tea garden labourer in Jalpaiguri, Karimul Haque, for his exemplary work Prasad said Haque has converted his motorcycle into an ambulance, rushes whosoever falls sick to hospital and in the process, has saved nearly 2,000 lives. 

"We never saw religion of Haque or whether he voted for us or not. If there are certain uncalled for voices, the Prime Minister addresses the concerns, the CMs (chief ministers) address concerns. Yogi (Adityanath) is a popular leader.

You are seeing his instances of good governance and inclusive development," Prasad said.

The minister said he has issues with those in the Left and journalists spreading "hatred" against Modi.

"We have a problem with some of our friends. Mostly, the Leftist friends and journalists who entertain a pathological hatred against Narendra Modi. Good luck to them," Prasad quipped.

According to Prasad, the Left is "left out" all over the world and had been defeated in India.

"They are left out in Bengal, are surviving in Kerala and Tripura, but the Left has got a very good campus in Delhi, which is the JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) and I always say the Left also needs some consolation prize. So, JNU is their consolation prize, we don't mind that," Prasad said.

India is in the third phase of political evolution where people are looking for "politics of aspirational reality with good governance".

"People of India know they can unseat any political party howsoever popular any political leader howsoever popular. This realisation brings about a different kind of humility. You better learn to perform and trust people. Otherwise, they will show you the door and they have been showing the door," Prasad pointed out.

He is of the view that the politics of 'want' relating to breads and of 'identity' based on caste, community, religion and region is over now.