Owaisi Sparks Debate: ‘Indian Constitution Says We the People, Not Bharat Mata’
AIMIM chief highlights secular foundations of the Constitution, warns against equating patriotism with religious identity.
India, Feb 09 : AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday reiterated that the Indian Constitution opens with the phrase “We the People,” stressing that it reflects the country’s inclusive and secular framework rather than invoking any religious symbolism. He was addressing a public rally in Sadasivpet.
Referring to the parliamentary discussion marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, Owaisi recalled asserting in Parliament that India adopted its Constitution on January 24, 1950, grounding the republic in collective sovereignty. He pointed out that Article 25 safeguards freedom of religion, while the Preamble commits the nation to liberty, equality, justice, and fraternity.
Owaisi argued that defining nationalism through a religious lens contradicts constitutional ideals and diminishes the legacy of several freedom fighters. Citing figures such as Bahadur Shah Zafar and Yusuf Meherally, he questioned how their contributions could be reconciled with a narrow interpretation of patriotism.
He maintained that devotion to the country should not be measured by religious expression, calling such a linkage unacceptable and contrary to the spirit of India’s founding document.
The remarks come against the backdrop of a detailed debate held during Parliament’s winter session last year to commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram.
