A political row has broken out after All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi spoke about his “dream” of seeing a hijab-clad woman become Prime Minister of India. The remark has drawn strong reactions from leaders across party lines, who questioned both the timing and intent of the statement.
Owaisi made the comment while addressing an election meeting in Solapur, Maharashtra, on Friday. He said the Indian Constitution allows any citizen to become Prime Minister and contrasted this with Pakistan, where the top post is restricted by religion. Calling India’s Constitution inclusive, he said it was his dream that “a hijab-clad daughter” would one day lead the country.
“The constitution of Pakistan clearly states that a person belonging to only one religion can become the Prime Minister of the country. Baba Sahib’s constitution says that any citizen of India can become Prime Minister, CM, or mayor. It is my dream that a day will come when a hijab-clad daughter will become the Prime Minister of this country,” he said.
Leaders question intent, stress merit and mandate
Reacting to the remark, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said there was no constitutional bar on who could become Prime Minister but asserted that India’s civilisation was rooted in Hindu traditions. He added that he was confident the country would always have a Hindu Prime Minister.
The statement also drew criticism from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. VHP spokesperson Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Vinod Bansal accused “radical elements” of holding back women. He said India had already had a woman Prime Minister and would have more in the future, but rejected what he described as an attempt to confine women to “radical Islamic principles”.
From Mumbai, Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC dismissed Owaisi’s statement outright. She said there was “no vacancy” for the Prime Minister’s post and pointed to the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shaina added that leadership should be decided by work and popular mandate, not caste, creed or community, though she said India could support a woman Prime Minister in the future on merit.
Congress leader Imran Masood also distanced himself from Owaisi’s remarks. Speaking to ANI, he said the AIMIM chief was talking about something “impossible”, comparing it to “seeing stars during the day”. He added that wearing a hijab was a personal choice and that democracy guaranteed individual rights.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X to challenge Owaisi to first appoint a hijab-clad woman or a Pasmanda Muslim as president of AIMIM before speaking of the Prime Minister’s post.