Owaisi shares dream of hijab-clad woman as PM, BJP, Shiv Sena slam him

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has sparked a heated debate by saying that he dreams that one day a “hijab-clad daughter” will become the prime minister of India.

Owaisi made this statement as he invoked the secular values of the Indian Constitution which was drafted by Bhim Rao Ambedkar. His remarks have prompted reactions from Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a rally in Solapur, Maharashtra, Lok Sabha MP Owaisi said, “Baba Sahib’s constitution says that any citizen of India can become prime minister, CM, or mayor. It is my dream that a day will come when a hijab-clad daughter will become the prime minister of this country.”

He added that they might not be able to witness the day, but the day will come when this will be possible.

He drew parallels with India’s neighbouring country Pakistan, saying that the constitution of Pakistan has clearly stated that a person belonging to only one religion can become the prime minister of the country.

He went on to add that those who spread hate against Muslims will end and when love becomes common, people will realise how people’s minds were poisoned.

Owaisi’s remarks sparked reactions from BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, launching a sharp attack in a post on X, challenging him to make a ‘Pasmanda’ Muslim or a hijab-clad woman the president of AIMIM first.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam’s Chief Minister also commented on this and said that the prime minister of India will always be someone that is Hindu, even though the Indian Constitution does not bar anyone from becoming a PM.

Shaina NC, spokesperson of Shiv Sena also weighed in and said that there is no vacancy for the prime minister’s post and that the leadership should be based on performance and popular mandate, not on caste, creed, or community. 

She added that the need for a woman prime minister is there, but that should happen based on her good work and popular mandate, stating how Narendra Modi’s popularity is known to one and all.