Rijiju made his original remark in an interview with the Indian Express and then posted an excerpt from that discussion on X, inviting sharp comments from Owaisi.
New Delhi:On Monday Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi sparred on X (formerly Twitter) over the condition of minorities in India, after the former said such communities had more benefits and protection than the majority Hindus.
To make his point, Rijiju declared that minority community members don't migrate to neighbouring nations - i.e., Indian Muslims do not leave for Pakistan or Bangladesh, though he didn't mention names - because the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party "provides additional benefits to minorities".
"Prime Minister Narendra Modiji's welfare schemes are for all. The schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs provide additional benefits to the minorities," he told Owaisi on X.
Owaisi hit back swiftly. The AIMIM boss said Indian Muslims chose to stay in India, not because of 'comforts' but because they are courageous enough to continue to fight for their rights.
"We don't flee... we fight for our rights. Don't compare India to failed states."
"According to the Minister Against Minorities, if we don't migrate it means we are happy. Actually, we are not in the habit of fleeing," Owaisi said, "... we did not run away from the British, we did not run away during Partition... our history is proof we neither collaborate with our oppressors nor hide from them."
Rijiju made his original remark in an interview with the Indian Express and then posted an excerpt from that discussion on X; he said that in the past 11 years Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government had "championed the principle of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas...'
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