Owaisi slams PM over Sanatan Sanstha event; asks why fund hate speeches
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Hyderabad: Asaduddin Owaisi, the head of AIMIM and an MP for Hyderabad, criticised the PM Modi-led Central government for allegedly using public funds for an event that featured hate speech and Islamophobic remarks directed at Muslims, including demands for the deportation of Muslims and the creation of a "Hindu Rashtra."
Owaisi questioned why public funds should be utilised to support events where such sentiments were allegedly made and why Rs 63 lakh of taxpayer money was being set aside for the program, Siasat Daily reported.
He said the speeches at the event promoted the idea of using government power to pressure Muslims to abandon their faith, and alleged that while authorities hesitate to allocate funds for initiatives such as mid-day meals in government schools, they appear willing to support such organisations.
His comments were in reference to the Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav, organised on December 13-14by Sanatan Sanstha at Bharat Mandapam.
According to a report by The Quint, several speakers at the event allegedly called for measures including the deportation of Muslims, restrictions on their population growth, and large-scale religious conversions, while also demanding the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra.
Union ministers such as Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Shripad Naik and Sanjay Seth, along with Delhi tourism minister Kapil Mishra, were also reported to have addressed the gathering.
Following the report, The Quint filed applications under the Right to Information Act, 2005 with the Ministry of Culture and the Delhi Tourism Department to find out whether government funds were used for the event.
The publication later reported that a response from the Culture Ministry confirmed that ₹63 lakh had been granted to Sanatan Sanstha for the programme, while a reply from Delhi’s tourism department was still awaited.