A heated exchange erupted between AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma following Owaisi’s statement that he envisions a future in which a hijab-wearing woman could become the Prime Minister of India, a vision he said flows directly from the inclusive values of the Indian Constitution.
Addressing an election rally in Solapur, Maharashtra, Owaisi referred to the Constitution drafted under the leadership of BR Ambedkar to argue that India was founded on principles of equality and openness. He contrasted India’s constitutional framework with that of Pakistan, noting that Pakistan’s Constitution restricts the post of Prime Minister to followers of a single religion, while India’s Constitution allows any citizen, regardless of faith, to rise to the highest political offices. He said this constitutional promise fuels his hope that one day a hijab-clad woman could lead the country as Prime Minister.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded sharply to Owaisi’s remarks, stating that while there is no constitutional restriction preventing anyone from becoming Prime Minister, India should be viewed as a Hindu nation rooted in Hindu civilisation. He asserted his belief that the country’s Prime Minister would always be a Hindu, framing his argument as a reflection of India’s cultural identity rather than a legal limitation.
Owaisi countered Sarma’s comments while speaking to reporters in Nagpur, accusing him of misunderstanding both the Constitution and its spirit. He questioned where Sarma’s claims were written in the Constitution and reiterated that Ambedkar’s vision ensured that India does not belong to any single community. Owaisi said that unlike Pakistan’s Constitution, India’s founding document deliberately avoided religious barriers to political leadership, and he described Ambedkar as far more learned and farsighted than those promoting exclusionary interpretations today.
Continuing his criticism, Owaisi said it was unfortunate that people holding constitutional offices could display such a narrow mindset. He argued that India’s strength lies in its diversity and its ability to accommodate believers of all faiths as well as those who do not believe in God at all. According to him, dismissing this diversity undermines the very idea of the nation and reflects a failure to grasp the Constitution’s moral foundation.
The exchange took place amid intense campaigning ahead of Mumbai’s civic elections scheduled for January 15, with results expected the following day. Political rhetoric has sharpened as parties seek to mobilise voters in a highly charged environment.
Adding to the debate, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticised Owaisi’s statement and challenged him to reflect his ideals within his own party. He questioned why Owaisi had not made a hijab-wearing or Pasmanda Muslim woman the president of AIMIM, arguing that constitutional ideals should first be practised within party structures before being projected as national aspirations.
During the same campaign trail, Owaisi also reiterated his long-standing criticism of amendments made to the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act during the UPA government’s tenure. He blamed the Congress for prolonged incarceration of undertrial prisoners and cited recent Supreme Court decisions denying bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam as examples of how the law’s language, in his view, allows for misuse and prolonged detention without trial.
