Congress MP Naseer Hussain at heart of ‘pro-Pak’ slogan row from a family of freedom fighters

On Monday, the Karnataka Police announced the arrest of three people in connection with the alleged slogans. The arrests were made soon after the BJP claimed that a forensic test by a private lab had proved the allegations to be correct.

Known as suave and soft-spoken, with a doctorate in politics and philosophy, Hussain hails from a family belonging to the impoverished district of Ballary, with links to the freedom struggle.

Soon after the controversy broke out last week, Hussain pointed to this: “If anyone thinks they are more patriotic, they should know that I come from a freedom fighter’s family… I don’t want lessons in patriotism and nationalism from people who try to divide the people of this country. They are the ones who are really anti-national.”

In an interview, Hussain told The Indian Express: “What does Pakistan have to do with a Rajya Sabha election in Karnataka? There is no meaning, no occasion, no connection… nothing… Even if somebody is seriously claiming that it was recorded and all, the law should take its own course.”

After having briefly taught political science at a government college in Devadurga region of Raichur district, Hussain had joined the M.Phil-Ph.D Program at the School of International Studies in JNU, and was awarded a doctorate for a thesis titled ‘Geo-Political Significance of Central Asian Republics – an Indian Perspective’.

Associated with the Congress as a student leader, he gradually rose up the ranks, catching the attention of Mallikarjun Kharge, who served for a long time in the Karnataka Congress before moving to Parliament. The Congress president is believed to have recommended his associate’s name for the Rajya Sabha seat.

In his affidavit for the recent Rajya Sabha polls, Hussain declared assets amounting to Rs 5.2 crore.

As a Rajya Sabha MP, Hussain has been a member of the Standing Committee on Information Technology and Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Between 2004-2014, when the UPA was in power, he was on the advisory committees of two important labour boards in the government.

The BJP stalled proceedings in the Assembly for consecutive days over the controversy, with its state president B Y Vijayendra saying on social media: “Highly blasphemous of Congress supporters to have openly raised ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans within the sanctum sanctorum of the Temple of Democracy, Vidhana Soudha. One can only imagine the type of venomous elements they might be harbouring against the interests of the nation.”

Dismissing the controversy, Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjwala said on social media: “To the imbecile minds who tarnish an entire minority community with the same brush, please remember that Sh Naseer Hussain is a committed nationalist and doctorate from JNU, who has been elected President of JNU Delhi twice, besides its Vice President and General Secretary. He has risen through the ranks of Youth Congress to be the Spokesperson of @INCIndia and Whip of Party in Parliament.”

He added that the BJP was rattled because of Hussain’s “stoic defence of Congress ideology and frontal attacks” on the Modi government.

The Karnataka Congress, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, said the BJP is frustrated because of its failure to win a second seat in the Rajya Sabha polls.

“If the FSL (forensic science lab) report proves that a slogan was raised in favour of Pakistan, serious action will be taken. There is no question of protecting those who raise such slogans,” Siddaramaiah said in the Assembly.