Hindu nationalists outraged as Indian MP ends parliamentary oath with 'long live Palestine'

An Indian MP has triggered a political row after ending his swearing in oath with the words "Long Live Palestine".

Asaduddin Owaisi shouted the pro-Palestine slogan during the swearing-in ceremony for the 18th Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, as 542 other legislators were declared winners of India's national election.

"I, Asaduddin Owaisi, who has been nominated as the member of parliament, do swear in the name of Allah that I will bear the true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter," he said in Urdu.

"Long live Bhim, long live AIMIM, long live Telangana and long live Palestine, God is the greatest." 

Bhim is the nickname of Bhimrao Ambedkar is a Dalit icon, AIMIM is the abbreviation for the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party which Owaisi leads, and Telangana is the state where he was elected to a fifth consecutive term.

However, it was his reference to Palestine that caused the most controversy with other lawmakers demanding an apology.

Owaisi's reference to Palestine comes amidst Israel's ongoing brutal war on Gaza. At least 37,718 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since October, with over 86,377 wounded in the same time frame. 

The Indian government has taken a pro-Israel position during the conflict, and India emerged as a leading source of pro-Israel misinformation on social media early on in the conflict.

Minister of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Rajiv Ranjan Singh said that Owaisi's comment was "wrong".

"The oath is taken for the Constitution of India and while doing that, he raised a slogan supporting a foreign nation," he said.

Amit Malviya, a leader from India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also hit out at Owaisi.

"As per extant rules, Asaduddin Owaisi can be disqualified from his Lok Sabha membership, for demonstrating adherence to a foreign state, that is Palestine," he said.

Malviya also posted a part of Article 102 of the Indian Constitution on X which states the different grounds for disqualification from parliament.

However, Owaisi doubled down on his remarks in comments made to reporters in New Delhi,

"Let them do whatever they want. I also know a little bit about the Constitution. These empty threats will not work on me," he said.  

The Muslim leader hails from a political family with his father a six-time MP for Hyderabad from 1984-2004.

As president of the AIMIM, Owaisi has championed Muslim rights and the rights of other religious minorities, including people from the Dalit caste.