Country Babur came from honoured PM Modi: Owaisi takes swipe at BJP
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Hyderabad: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday took a dig at the BJP and the Sangh Parivar after Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Uzbekistan’s highest state honour, pointing out that Mughal emperor Babur originated from the Central Asian country.
Reacting to the Prime Minister being conferred the Order of Oliy Darajali Do'stlik, Owaisi said the award had come from “the very country from which Babur came to India”.
“I congratulate the BJP; the very country from which Babur came to India has conferred an award upon the Prime Minister,” the Hyderabad MP said.
Owaisi noted that Babur was from the Fergana Valley, located in present-day Uzbekistan, and said Prime Minister Modi had been receiving honours during several of his foreign visits.
“Wherever the Prime Minister goes these days, he returns with an award. Congratulations,” he said.
The AIMIM chief also targeted the BJP and the wider Sangh Parivar over their frequent references to Babur in political discourse. He said those who had earlier used Babur’s name to attack political opponents should now reflect on the fact that Uzbekistan, Babur’s place of origin, had honoured the Prime Minister.
“You used to shower so many insults in Babur's name, yet the people of that very country are now honouring you with an award,” Owaisi said.
He added that the development should prompt introspection among RSS supporters and members of the Sangh Parivar.
“The Sangh needs to reflect on this. You used to abuse us, invoking Babur. And now you have been given a civilian award from the very place where Babur came from. We hope that people of the Sangh Parivar and those who support the RSS will no longer take Babur's name in this manner, because the Fergana Valley is there, in Uzbekistan. Now what will they say?” Owaisi said.
Prime Minister Modi was conferred the Oliy Darajali Do'stlik Order, Uzbekistan’s highest honour for foreign leaders, during his visit to the country. The award recognises his contribution to strengthening strategic partnership and friendship between India and Uzbekistan.
“Honoured to receive the Oliy Darajali Do'stlik Order. I dedicate this to the enduring bond between India and Uzbekistan,” Modi said in a social media post.
The latest recognition adds to the list of top civilian and state honours received by Modi from several countries for his role in strengthening bilateral relations.
Indonesia conferred its highest civilian honour, the Bintang Adipurna, on Modi in July. In June, Seychelles awarded him the Guardian of the Blue Horizon honour for his leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Earlier this year, Israel conferred the Medal of the Knesset on Modi, making him its first recipient. Russia had awarded him the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, its highest state decoration, in 2024, while the United States conferred the Legion of Merit on him in 2020.
