In a forthright and unambiguous address made during an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi, Member of Parliament and President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), offered a stern rebuke to Pakistan’s portrayal of India on the global stage. Speaking with clarity and patriotic resolve, Mr. Owaisi dismissed Islamabad’s repeated assertions that Muslims face discrimination in the Indian Union.
“India is home to no fewer than 240 million Muslims, each living with dignity and contributing to the growth and character of our great republic,” Mr. Owaisi remarked. “Our Islamic scholars, our thinkers, our entrepreneurs – they are recognised across the world. We are not a marginalised people; we are an integral pillar of the nation.”
These remarks, delivered before a gathering of community leaders, business representatives, and regional dignitaries, come at a time of heightened attention to security concerns following recent unrest and the Indian government’s military response known as Operation Sindoor, aimed at rooting out cross-border militancy.
Mr. Owaisi’s critique extended to Pakistan’s internal contradictions, especially its alleged support for internationally condemned extremist groups. Drawing attention to recent imagery depicting Pakistan’s top military leader, General Asim Munir, seated beside an individual blacklisted by foreign authorities, Mr. Owaisi said: “The company one keeps reflects their intentions. Such associations cast a long and dark shadow on any nation’s credibility.”
He further urged the global community, particularly international watchdogs such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), to review Pakistan’s activities with due scrutiny. “The evidence points to repeated violations and ongoing support for terror financing. Returning Pakistan to the grey list is not just an administrative step – it is a moral necessity,” he asserted.
With wit and candour, Mr. Owaisi also took aim at a recent incident in which Pakistani media circulated a doctored image purporting to show military triumph, which was later found to originate from unrelated foreign exercises. “When one relies on fabrications to appear strong, the truth becomes their undoing,” he quipped, eliciting laughter from sections of the audience.
Addressing the broader issue of national unity, Mr. Owaisi dismissed any attempt to divide India along religious lines. “Our country’s strength lies in its diversity. Whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian, the people of India rise together when national interests are at stake,” he said, emphasising the cohesion that defines the Indian experience.
The visit to Saudi Arabia forms part of a diplomatic effort by an Indian parliamentary delegation led by Mr. Baijayant Panda. The delegation seeks to counter misinformation about India and strengthen bonds with nations in the Gulf region, which host millions of Indian expatriates.
Mr. Owaisi’s remarks signal a growing determination among Indian leaders to assert the country’s pluralist credentials abroad, while firmly confronting narratives that seek to mischaracterise the lived reality of its citizens.
In a time of diplomatic posturing and geopolitical uncertainty, Mr. Owaisi’s forthright declarations served as both a defence of India’s secular identity and a call to hold state sponsors of terror accountable on the international stage.
