Naidu pulls up 'shameless' Owaisi over his anti-India rant

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said it is extremely unfortunate that some 'shameful' people have expressed their opposition to raising pro-national slogans.

Naidu's remark came in the wake of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi's rant that he would not raise slogan of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' to prove his loyalty to the nation.

"India is our mother and no one should have objection to pay obeisance to mother.it is the misfortune of the country that some people object to it. They are shameless. Some parties are backing such forces, it is unfortunate. There no need to pressurize anyone or there is no need of a law to respect our mother," Naidu told the media here.

An adamant Owaisi had yesterday said backed his earlier remark and said that he has not violated any law.

"I stand by my statement. Why should I raise such a slogan to prove my loyalty to this country? I have not violated any law," Owaisi told ANI on Monday.

Owaisi's comments came in wake of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion that the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India.

The RSS chief had earlier said the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India. Bhagwat's comments came against the backdrop of the row over alleged anti-India sloganeering in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on February 9.