"No one with fundamental religious outlook can become PM": BJP leader Prakash Reddy on Owaisi's hijab remarks

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], January 11 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Prakash Reddy on Sunday accused the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi of repeatedly attempting to revive communal tensions for political gains.
Speaking to ANI, he said that no one in the country can become the Prime Minister through a fundamental religious outlook.
"Once again, Asaduddin Owaisi, MP of Hyderabad, has made a statement about a hijab-clad woman becoming the Prime Minister. Once again, he wants to revive communal tensions and do politics only on a communal basis," Reddy said.
The BJP leader further stated that the Indian Constitution allows any citizen to become the Prime Minister, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, or race.
"Under the Indian Constitution, anyone can become the Prime Minister of the country, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, or race. But becoming the Prime Minister on the basis of religion, particularly on the basis of fundamental religious outlook, will never happen in this country," he added.
Reddy further alleged that Owaisi promotes religious fundamentalism in politics.
"In India, we accept the Constitution. A person who has faith in the Constitution and works for the country can become the Prime Minister. But those who work on religious fundamentalist ideology and insist on religious identity will never become the Prime Minister," he said.
Taking a swipe at the AIMIM chief, Reddy said that if Owaisi truly believed in constitutional values, he should abandon his party's "religious identity".
"If he has faith in the Constitution, he should remove his party's religious identity and work for the nation. Anybody can become the Prime Minister, but a person driven by religious fundamentalism will never become one, he should remember this," he added.
Reddy was responding to Owaisi's "hijab-clad women as PM" remarks.
Earlier, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma responded to Owaisi, saying that although it is constitutionally possible, India, being a Hindu nation, will see a Hindu person become the Prime Minister.
"Constitutionally, there is no bar. Anyone can become the Prime Minister. But India is a Hindu nation, Hindu civilisation, and we will always believe, and we are extremely confident that the Indian Prime Minister will always be a Hindu person," he said, while speaking to the media.
This comes after Owaisi said that one day a hijab-clad daughter will become the Prime Minister of India, highlighting the inclusivity of the Indian Constitution.
Speaking at the election meeting in Maharashtra's Solapur on Friday, Owaisi argued that such inclusivity is not offered in Pakistan's constitution, which restricts people of other religions from holding top posts.
"The constitution of Pakistan clearly states that a person belonging to only one religion can become the Prime Minister of the country. Baba Sahib's constitution says that any citizen of India can become Prime Minister, CM, or mayor. It is my dream that a day will come when a hijab-clad daughter will become the Prime Minister of this country," he said.
The State Election Commission in Maharashtra has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), PMC and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).
Polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16. (ANI)