‘Can’t allow not having a discussion in Parliament… If PM doesn’t come, I’ll say PM has run away’: Asaduddin Owaisi

Will you support the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition alliance?

Owaisi: The BRS also gave a notice for moving a no-confidence motion, which I signed.

That was not taken up as the Congress notice was received first. So, in principle, you are supporting a no-confidence motion against this government?

Owaisi: Of course, we have always been opposing the government. But that doesn’t mean I should be seen with other so-called secular parties.

Did the INDIA alliance reach out to you before giving the notice?

Owaisi: No. Why would they contact me? That is an esteemed club of political choudharies (bosses). Our opposition to the BJP has been from Day 1. My party didn’t support the UAPA amendment Bill (which tightened provisions of the Act). The Congress and other secular parties had supported the BJP when Amit Shah moved an amendment to the UAPA. But who is languishing in jail? Are these leaders languishing in jail under the UAPA? No. It is the people who are opposing Narendra Modi and his policies who are.

Parliament has been in turmoil. But even with the disruption, the government has been rushing through Bills without much discussion. Is the Opposition strategy on this right?

Owaisi: I don’t like Parliament being stopped. Parliament is there to discuss and to debate. As the old saying goes… in Parliamentary democracy… the Opposition must have its say, and the government must have its way. Unfortunately, the government gets away by not having a debate in Parliament. Basically, they escape their responsibilities by not having a discussion, wherein they would be held responsible for all the wrong policies that the people of this country are facing. In a way, we are allowing the government to escape. For example, today [Wednesday], the Opposition disrupted Lok Sabha proceedings [demanding the PM address the House on Manipur] when we had already submitted a no-confidence motion. In the melee, the government introduced several important Bills with huge repercussions via voice vote. The Opposition parties [which are in principle opposed to these] were busy protesting, giving the government an escape route to run away with legislation while not answering pointed questions on its failure.

Assembly polls are due in Telangana in a few months. Will your party align with the BRS?

Owaisi: What we do will be known closer to the polls. There is still some time for elections. But our immediate priority will be to ensure that our candidates and our party gets politically stronger in Telangana.

Is there any possibility of an alliance with the Congress?

Owaisi: They don’t even want to speak to me while giving notice for moving a no-confidence motion.

Do you feel the government may introduce a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill?

Owaisi: The Prime Minister talked about UCC during a speech in Bhopal. The Law Commission is asking for opinion without even laying out a working paper. At least, the 21st Law Commission issued a working paper. This Law Commission is just asking for views and opinion without even laying forward exactly what they have in mind. Our party has given its views and opinion to the Law Commission. We are opposing a UCC because it is against the country’s pluralism, our freedom of religion, which is a fundamental right, and right to culture — basically, Articles 25, 26 and 29 of the Constitution. We don’t know the opinion of other so-called secular parties, but we have given ours to the Law Commission. We will see what comes up.

As of now, there have been a lot of protests by tribals, not only in the Northeast but even those living outside. The population of tribals in India is nearly 11.5 crore. If Amit Shah says they will exclude the tribals of the Northeast, how will that be uniform? If you bring a legislation targeting only one religion, that itself is a violation of the Right to Equality, Right to Life, as well as Articles 19, 25, 26 and 29. Also, the government, while answering a question, said that in 2022-23, over 8.75 lakh Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) filed income tax returns (ITRs) and claimed deductions worth Rs 3,803 crore. What will happen to that? If you are talking about a UCC… the Hindu Succession Act, Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act… everything will have to go. These are things the government will have to answer.

How do you see the coming together of 26 Opposition parties?

Owaisi: They have not invited us. No one has talked to us. It is their decision. But that doesn’t mean our party will stop opposing the BJP. We will definitely try to see that Narendra Modi doesn’t become the PM for the third time. It is these parties who must work to ensure that what they say… they also do in practice. Because [in 2019] out of the 186 Lok Sabha seats where there was a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP… the Congress could win only 15 or 16 seats. And then they have the cheek to blame me. Out of 500 Lok Sabha seats, we contested only three, and won two, losing the third to the Congress, which, incidentally, was the only seat the united Opposition won in Bihar. As far as our opposition to the BJP and the RSS is concerned, it will continue. Because it is the minorities who have suffered the most in the last nine years. Whether it is in the case of professions, attire… hijab, halal, azaan have been targeted, there has been mob lynching… In the last nine years, it is the Christians, Dalits and Muslims who have faced the brunt of the BJP’s communal politics.