Owaisi's 'Jai Palestine' chant in Lok Sabha stirs political row

Hyderabad MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi  stoked a row on Tuesday after he said "Jai Palestine" while taking oath in the Lok Sabha.

He concluded his oath with the words, "Jai Bhim, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine".

"Other members are also saying different things... I said 'Jai Bheem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine'. How is it wrong? Tell me the provision of the Constitution [that I violated]. You should also listen to what others said. I said what I had to. Read what Mahatma Gandhi had said about Palestine," Owaisi said.

His remarked evoked sharp reactions from the BJP. "The slogan Jai Palestine given by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi in Parliament today is absolutely wrong. This is against the rules of the House. He does not say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' while living in India... People should understand that he does unconstitutional work while living in the country," said  Union Minister G Kishan Reddy.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said India does not have any enmity with Palestine or any other country. "While taking the oath is it proper for any member to raise the slogan praising another country...We will have to check the rules if it is appropriate...," he said.