After senior opposition legislator Asaduddin Owaisi read out the pledge on Tuesday, the normally formal swearing-in ceremony where Indian lawmakers take the oath of office descended into an uproar. Asaduddin Owaisi screamed, “Jai Palestine.” Owaisi’s catchphrase effectively equates to “Long live Palestine,” as the Sanskrit word “jai” means “victory” but is also used more widely to indicate solidarity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers have henceforth accused Asaduddin Owaisi of betraying the very constitutional oath he was taking by allegedly displaying allegiance to another country. Owaisi has refuted this accusation. What actually transpired, why have Owaisi’s remarks gained controversy, what else took place in the Indian Parliament on Tuesday, and what will happen to Owaisi going forward?
What Did Asaduddin Owaisi Say In His Speech?
Following the announcement of the results of India’s massive national election, Owaisi and 542 other lawmakers took the oath of office as members of parliament (MPs). Amid sporadic clapping from fellow lawmakers, Asaduddin Owaisi—dressed in white kurtas—advanced to the podium in Parliament and recited his oath aloud in Urdu.
“In the name of Allah, I, Asaduddin Owaisi, the duly elected member of the Lok Sabha, affirm that I shall uphold the Indian Constitution with solemnity and loyalty. He vowed in Urdu, “I will uphold the supremacy and integrity of India and I will faithfully carry out the tasks assigned to me under my office. The lower chamber of India’s parliament, known as the Lok Sabha, is chosen directly.
He then moved away from the podium after chanting “Jai Bhim, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Filisteen.”
The pro-Dalit catchphrase “Jai Bhim” honors Bhimrao Ambedkar, the Dalit architect of the Indian Constitution. In India’s intricate caste system, Dalits have always been at the bottom. Meem is a portion of the Urdu script that closely resembles the letter “M” in English. It is thought that Owaisi was alluding to his party, the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which is more often known as MIM.
Owaisi hails from the state of Telangana; Palestine is known as Filisteen in Hindi and Urdu.
India’s Diplomatic Shift On The Israel-Palestine Issue
Although India has always been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, the last three decades have seen a blossoming of India-Israel relations, particularly in the areas of security and defense.
Consequently, New Delhi’s relatively recent cooperation with Israel and its historical devotion to Palestine have been carefully balanced by successive governments. However, concerns have been raised over whether India is tipping towards Israel and forsaking this equilibrium, especially since the beginning of the current Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded to a question in the Lok Sabha as recently as February 2024, stating that New Delhi has “supported a negotiated two-state solution, towards the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine within secure and recognized borders, living side by side in peace with Israel” and that India’s policy towards Palestine “has been long-standing and consistent.”
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