“You Are a Minister, Not a King”: Asaduddin Owaisi Clashes with Union Minister Over Constitutional Conduct

Hyderabad, 7 July – (www.deccanlive.com): A strong argument broke out on social media between Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and AIMIM leader and MP Asaduddin Owaisi over the condition of minorities in India.

What Kiren Rijiju Said:

In an interview, Kiren Rijiju said:

“India is the only country where minorities enjoy more benefits and security than the majority Hindus.”

He posted this on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), and added that:

• Minorities in India don’t migrate to neighboring countries.
• (He hinted that Indian Muslims don’t move to Pakistan.)

Owaisi’s Sharp Response:

Asaduddin Owaisi strongly disagreed with Rijiju’s remarks and replied with a long post on X.

He said:

“Kiren Rijiju, you are a minister in a democracy, not a king on a throne. You hold a constitutional post, not royal power. Minority rights are fundamental rights, not charity.”

Owaisi accused Rijiju and the government of:

• Ending scholarships like:
• Maulana Azad National Fellowship
• Pre-matric scholarships for minorities
• Reducing post-matric and merit-based scholarships
• Saying it was done because Muslims were benefiting

Owaisi’s Key Questions:

He asked:

• “Is it a benefit to be called Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Jihadi, or Rohingya every day?”
• “Is lynching called security?”
• “Is it a privilege to see our homes, mosques, and dargahs destroyed by bulldozers?”
• “Is it respect to be the target of hate speeches from leaders?”
• “Can Muslims be members of Hindu Endowment Boards? No. But your new Waqf law allows non-Muslims to dominate Waqf Boards.”

Final Message:

Owaisi ended by saying:

“Minorities in India are not even second-class citizens anymore — we are like hostages in our own country.”

Owaisi Says: Government Policies Hurt Minorities the Most

Asaduddin Owaisi criticized Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s ministry and economic decisions. He said:

“You ended the Maulana Azad National Fellowship, stopped the pre-matric scholarship, and limited the post-matric and merit-based scholarships—just because they were helping Muslim students.”

Muslims Suffering in Education and Economy

Owaisi added:

• Muslims are now the only group whose numbers in higher education have gone down.
• More Muslims are now part of the informal (unorganized) economy.
• These changes are the result of the government’s economic policies—and this is based on the government’s own data.

He said:

“Muslim children today are in a worse situation than their parents and grandparents. Earlier, each generation improved—but now, that trend has reversed.”

Lack of Basic Services and Fairness

Owaisi also said:

• Muslim-majority areas lack proper infrastructure and basic services.
• “We are not asking for more than what is given to the majority, and not comparing with minorities in other countries.”
• “We just want social, economic, and political justice, as promised in the Indian Constitution.”

Rijiju’s Response

Kiren Rijiju replied:

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s welfare schemes are for everyone. The Ministry of Minority Affairs gives extra support to minorities.”

He also said that for the past 11 years, the Modi government has followed the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (Together with all, development for all).