The case was filed by advocate Virendra Gupta, who claims that Owaisi violated constitutional and legal norms. In June, Owaisi concluded his oath in the Lok Sabha with the words “Jai Palestine.”
Uttar Pradesh: A Bareilly court has issued a notice to Asaduddin Owaisi, President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), directing him to appear in court regarding an incident in which he raised pro-Palestine slogans while taking his oath as a Member of Parliament.
The court has scheduled a hearing for January 7, 2025.
The case was filed by advocate Virendra Gupta, who claims that Owaisi violated constitutional and legal norms. In June, Owaisi concluded his oath in the Lok Sabha with the words “Jai Palestine.”
Owaisi had triumphed over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Madhavi Latha Kompella, winning by a margin of 338,087 votes in the recent parliamentary elections, securing his fifth consecutive victory from Hyderabad in Telangana.
READ ALSO: ‘Jai Palestine’ Slogan | SC Lawyer Filed a Complaint Against Asaduddin Owaisi
During his swearing-in ceremony, Owaisi ended his oath with the phrases “Jai Bhim, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine.” When questioned about it, he explained, “Everyone is saying a lot of things… I just said ‘Jai Bhim, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine’… How is it against the Constitution?”
When asked why he said “Jai Palestine,” Owaisi responded, “The people there are destitute. Mahatma Gandhi has said many things about Palestine, and one can read them.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 45,129 Palestinians and injuries to 107,338 since October 7, 2023. At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks on that day, with more than 200 taken captive, according to media.
Earlier, Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain has filed a formal complaint with President Draupadi Murmu, seeking the disqualification of Asaduddin Owaisi, the Member of Parliament from Hyderabad. This move comes in response to Owaisi’s controversial slogan of ‘Jai Palestine’ during his oath-taking ceremony as a Lok Sabha member, which has sparked widespread debate and outrage.
Understanding Articles 102 and 103
According to Article 102 of the Indian Constitution, a person is deemed ineligible for election as a member of either House of Parliament if they hold an office of profit under the Government of India or any State Government, have been declared mentally incompetent by a court, have been declared bankrupt, are not a citizen of India, or have accepted citizenship of another country. Additionally, any law passed by Parliament can also declare a person disqualified.
Article 103 empowers the President to decide on the eligibility of an MP upon receiving a complaint under Article 102. However, before making a decision, the President must consult the Election Commission of India.
