Ambedkar’s Constitution allows hijab-clad woman to become PM, says Owaisi
Solapur: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said the Constitution framed by B R Ambedkar allows every Indian citizen to aspire to the country’s highest offices, expressing his hope that a hijab-clad woman would one day become the Prime Minister, India Today reported.
Addressing an election meeting in Maharashtra’s Solapur amid campaigning for upcoming civic polls, Owaisi pointed to what he described as the inclusive nature of the Indian Constitution.
“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, Chief Minister or mayor,” he said. “It is my dream that a day will come when a hijab-clad daughter will become the Prime Minister of this country.”
He also criticised what he termed the politics of hatred against Muslims, saying it would not last. “The hate that you are spreading against Muslims will not go on for long. Those who spread hate will come to an end,” he said. According to him, when compassion becomes the norm, people will realise “how their minds were poisoned”.
The remarks drew a sharp response from the BJP. Party national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla questioned Owaisi’s call for inclusivity, asking him to first reflect it within his own party. “Hijabwali will become PM says Miyaan Owaisi. Constitution stops nobody, but I challenge you to make a Pasmanda or hijab-clad woman the president of AIMIM first,” Poonawalla said in a post on X.
During the same campaign, Owaisi reiterated his criticism of amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act made during the UPA government. He blamed the Congress for provisions that, according to him, have led to prolonged incarceration of undertrials.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, he said the law’s wording allowed for misuse.
“Using this very basis of ‘by any other means’, which the Congress had legislated, and about which I had already warned, today two young men who have been in jail for five and a half years did not get bail,” Owaisi said, asking whether any Congress leader had faced comparable imprisonment since independence.
The comments come amid intense campaigning for Mumbai’s civic elections scheduled for January 15, with results due on January 16. AIMIM is seeking to expand its presence in Maharashtra’s urban local bodies as constitutional rights and governance dominate the campaign trail.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
