New Delhi [India], January 11 : BJP leader RP Singh challenged AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday to first bring forward a leader from his party who wears hijab. The challenge came in response to Owaisi's recent remarks in which he claimed that one day India will have a hijab-clad woman as its Prime Minister.
Speaking to ANI, he said, "Owaisi sahb, in Kerala there was Nabeesa Ummal, in Kashmir there is Iltija Mufti and her mother Mehbooba Mufti, and also there is Rania Al Abdullah, who is the Queen of Jordan, who is married in a family which is the descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, and none of these women wore a hijab"
Emphasizing on the point that in many countries around the world Muslim women in leading positions did not wear the religious headscarf (hijab), and challenging Owaisi to himself bring forward a leader in the party who wears one.
"In many countries around the world, Muslim sisters and daughters have served as Prime Ministers and Presidents, but they never wore a hijab. He is deliberately playing politics on this issue. We expect him to first bring forward a leader from your own party who wears a hijab" Singh said.
Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded to Owaisi, saying that although it is constitutionally possible, India, being a Hindu nation, will see a Hindu person become the Prime Minister.
"Constitutionally, there is no bar. Anyone can become the Prime Minister. But India is a Hindu nation, Hindu civilisation, and we will always believe, and we are extremely confident that the Indian Prime Minister will always be a Hindu person," he said, while addressing mediapersons.
This comes after Owaisi said that one day a hijab-clad daughter will become the Prime Minister of India, highlighting the inclusivity of the Indian Constitution.
Addressing the election meeting in Maharashtra's Solapur on Friday, Owaisi argued that such inclusivity is not offered in Pakistan's constitution, which restricts people of other religions from holding top posts.
"The constitution of Pakistan clearly states that a person belonging to only one religion can become the Prime Minister of the country. 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," the AIMIM leader said.
The State Election Commission in Maharashtra has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), PMC and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).
Polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16.