 staged a boycott during the oath ceremony for the newly elected MLAs in the state.){kind=link}
The Telangana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a boycott during the oath ceremony for the newly elected MLAs in the state. The bone of contention was the appointment of Akbaruddin Owaisi, a prominent leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), as the Protem Speaker for the state assembly.
The Protem Speaker holds the crucial responsibility of administering the oath to the newly elected legislators. However, this ceremonial duty became a focal point of political discord as the BJP, led by MLA T Raja Singh, expressed vehement objection to Akbaruddin Owaisi’s appointment.
Raja Singh, who emerged victorious from the Goshamahal constituency in the recent assembly elections, took to social media to make a bold statement. In a video message, he declared his refusal to take the oath “as long as he is alive” in the presence of AIMIM’s Akbaruddin Owaisi. Singh emphasized that he would only consider participating in the oath-taking ceremony once a full-term speaker is appointed.
More About The Ceremony:
The controversy deepened as Raja Singh pointed to historical remarks made by Akbaruddin Owaisi that were perceived as anti-Hindu. Singh questioned the appropriateness of taking the oath in front of someone with a controversial track record, stating, “Can I take oath in front of a person who made anti-Hindu comments in the past?”
The BJP’s decision to boycott the ceremony underscores the political tension and ideological differences prevailing in the state. The move sends a strong signal of dissent against the appointment process and raises questions about the inclusivity and neutrality of the Protem Speaker, a position traditionally expected to be non-partisan.
The episode also highlights the broader challenges of communal politics in India, with political leaders leveraging historical statements and ideological differences to garner support and make a symbolic stand. As the political landscape in Telangana continues to evolve, the standoff over the oath ceremony serves as a reminder of the delicate balance required for the smooth functioning of a diverse democracy.