"Would've have done the same had I been in his place": AIMIM's Waris Pathan defends Owaisi tearing copy of Waqf Bill

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 3 (ANI): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan on Thursday defended party chief Asaduddin Owaisi who had strongly opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill, dramatically tearing its copy in protest in the Lok Sabha.
Speaking to ANI, Pathan asserted that no Muslim's conscience would accept such legislation, terming it a direct attack on the community.
"He (Owaisi) gave an example of Mahatma Gandhi that when he was aggrieved so he tore away a law of South Africa. His conscience also said that this bill is unconstitutional; the BJP is trying to divide the nation in the name of religion, and so, in protest, he tore apart the bill. What is wrong with it? I would also have done the same thing had I been in his place. No Muslim's conscience would allow such laws to be passed. In fact, I would have torn it and thrown it into the air. This is a direct attack on our community," Waris Pathan said.
The AIMIM leader also mentioned that the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha is "another dark day for the Muslims in the country."
"We have seen ever since they (BJP) have come to power, they have only spread hatred and this is one of the examples they have shown yesterday. This is totally an unconstitutional bill. This is a direct attack on Muslims and all they want to do is usurp our Waqf properties. We will continue our protest against this bill as per our constitution. We will take all legal routes. They have shown that they have got the strength and they will do whatever they want to. This is nothing less than dictatorship, and they have shown that. We will continue our protest till the Modi government takes it back," Pathan asserted.
Asasuddin Owaisi on Wednesday attacked the BJP-led Central government over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and unstapled and tore the copy of the bill as a mark to oppose the legislation.
While participating in the debate over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha, he alleged that Muslims would be treated unfairly through the Waqf Bill.
"This Bill is an attack on Muslims. The Modi government has started a war on my freedom. My mosques, my dargahs, my madrasas are on target. This government is not revealing the truth. This Bill violates Article 14- Equal Protection. Limitations will be imposed. By doing so, the encroacher will become the owner, and a non -Muslim will administrate the Waqf Board. This Bill also violates Equality For Law," Owaisi said.
On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 after a marathon and heated debate, during which members of the INDIA bloc fiercely opposed the legislation while the BJP and its allies strongly supported it, saying it would bring transparency and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards. (ANI)