DAYS after Indian prime minister Narendra Modi told a US journalist that there is no scope of discrimination in India when asked about how his government would improve minority rights during a joint press conference at the White House, prominent Indian Muslim leader Asaduddin Owaisi lashed out at the former over various issues, including burning down of several hundred churches in the north-eastern state of Manipur; controversial Citizenship Amendment Act; rolling back of a fellowship scheme for students from minority communities, including Muslims, among others.
According to him, these were signs of discrimination against minorities. He also said that Modi has not a single Muslim member in his cabinet.
The 54-year-old Owaisi, who leads All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and represents the southern city of Hyderabad in the Lok Sabha or Lower House of the Indian parliament, told reporters on Saturday (24), “Three hundred churches were burnt in Manipur, isn't that a discrimination? The CAA was made by the Modi government on the basis of religion while Maulana Azad Fellowship Scheme (implemented by UGC for the students of Muslim, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist, Christian and Jain minority communities) was scrapped…all these steps are a sign of discrimination."
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Owaisi said while Modi speaks of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas' (together with all, trust of all)), there was no Muslim minister or parliamentarian in the prime minister's cabinet.
“'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas' is a good dialogue, but there is not a single Muslim minister or MP in Modi's cabinet. There is no Muslim representation with them," the parliamentarian said.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, a former minority affairs minister, was the last Muslim member in Modi's cabinet who stepped down in July last year.
The Muslim leader's blunt attack came in response to the prime minister's remarks on the state of minority rights in India on Thursday (22).
He said democracy runs in India's veins and that the country doesn't discriminate on the basis of religion, creed or caste.
The Joe Biden administration was under pressure from a number of US lawmakers, including those from the ruling Democratic Party, to raise the issue of India's human rights record under the Modi government. Former president Barack Obama also sought for protection of the minorities' rights in an interview while Modi was touring the US, leading to a backlash from Indian leaders back home.
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