Will Asaduddin Owaisi loose Parliament membership over ‘Jai Palestine’ slogan?

New Delhi: Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi is currently under scrutiny regarding his Lok Sabha membership. The controversy erupted after Owaisi concluded his oath-taking ceremony as an MP for the fifth time with the slogan “Jai Palestine.”

SC advocate Hari Shankar Jain calls for membership cancellation

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Harishankar Jain has called for the cancellation of Owaisi’s parliamentary membership, arguing that his actions indicate allegiance to a foreign state. On June 26, Jain wrote a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to revoke Owaisi’s membership. He claimed that Owaisi’s slogan in the Lok Sabha demonstrates his support for Palestine, which contradicts his responsibilities as an Indian MP.

Constitutional grounds for disqualification

According to Jain, Owaisi's actions could potentially disqualify him under Article 102 of the Indian Constitution. This article specifies various reasons for disqualification, such as holding an office of profit under the government, being of unsound mind, being an undischarged insolvent, not being a citizen of India, or showing allegiance to a foreign state.

Backlash and political reactions

The controversy began when Owaisi, after taking his oath in Urdu, concluded with the slogan “Jai Palestine,” sparking significant backlash, particularly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed receiving complaints about Owaisi’s slogan and stated that the matter would be reviewed according to parliamentary rules. Rijiju emphasized that while India has no enmity with Palestine, it is essential to assess whether it is appropriate for a parliament member to praise another country during the oath-taking ceremony.

What is the course as per Parliamentary rules?

Article 102 of the Indian Constitution outlines the grounds for disqualification of a member of Parliament. These include:

• Holding an office of profit under the government, except in cases exempted by law.
• Being declared of unsound mind by a competent court.
• Being an undischarged insolvent.
• Not being a citizen of India, voluntarily acquiring citizenship of a foreign state, or acknowledging allegiance to a foreign state.
• Being disqualified by any law made by Parliament.

The ongoing controversy surrounding Owaisi's slogan will now be examined to determine if it breaches these constitutional provisions.