Video: Owaisi's 'Jai Palestine' mention while taking oath as Lok Sabha MP sparks controversy

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisicourted fresh controversy on Tuesday (June 25) as he made a mention of conflict-hit Palestine while concluding his oath as Lok Sabha MP.

Owaisi, who has been elected from the Hyderabad seat in Telangana for his fifth consecutive term, took the oath in Urdu and said, "Jai Bhim, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine", hailing the state of Telangana, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and Palestine that is facing a war with Israel after Hamas' assault on October 7 last year.

Following this, the treasury benches created an uproar which led to the Chair expunging his remarks from the record.

Radha Mohan Singh, who was in the Chair at the time, assured the members that anything apart from the oath will not go on record.

Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab said that any of the slogans raised by the newly-elected MPs while taking the oath stand expunged and will not be added to the record.

"I have said earlier please avoid invoking anything other than oath or affirmation. That is only to be recorded... That should be adhered to," Mahtab said.

'Will continue to raise issues of India’s marginalised,' says Owaisi

Later, Owaisi in a post on his official X account said that he would continue to raise issues of India’s marginalised with sincerity.

"Sworn in as member of Lok Sabha for the fifth time. Inshallah I will continue to raise issues of India’s marginalised with sincerity," he wrote.

As the controversy surrounding his slogan caught fire, the AIMIM leader said that it wasn't against the rule and that there was no provision in the Constitution that barred him from saying that.

"Everyone is saying a lot of things... I just said "Jai Bhim, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine"...How it is against, show the provision in the Constitution? You should also listen to what others said. I said what I had to," Owaisi said.

"Waha ki awaam mahroom hai (They are oppressed people). Mahatma Gandhi has said so many things regarding Palestine and one can go and read," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)