Muslim MP tears controversial Indian bill amid heated debate

HYDERABAD: Muslim MP Asaduddin Owaisi tore a copy of the proposed nationality legislation in the midst of a heated debate in the Indian parliament on Monday, NDTV reported.

“It is an attempt to divide the nation. The proposed law is against our country’s constitution,” Owaisi declared.

In his address to the lower house, the Hyderabad MP said that Gandhi gained the title “Mahatma” after he tore the discriminatory citizenship card in South Africa, and there was no reason why he should not do the same with the Citizenship Amendment Bill.

“This bill is against the constitution… it is worse than (Adolf) Hitler’s law and a conspiracy to make Muslims stateless,” he said, adding that the passage of such a legislation will only lead to a repeat of the 1947 partition.

Owaisi also accused the BJP-led government of insulting the country’s freedom fighters by trying to marginalise Muslims, and wondered why it was not concentrating its efforts on retaking parts of the country under foreign occupation instead.

“Are you afraid of China?” he asked, in a reference to the neighbouring country’s encroachment in Arunachal Pradesh.