Owaisi questioned the Sangh Parivar’s repeated references to Babur, urging its supporters to reconsider invoking the Mughal emperor after Uzbekistan, his place of origin, honoured PM Modi.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday turned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest foreign honour in Uzbekistan into a political taunt against the BJP, saying the honour came from the country from which Mughal emperor Babur originated. He asked how the BJP and the Sangh Parivar could now invoke Babur’s name to target the Opposition after the country of his birth honoured the Prime Minister.
Reacting to PM Modi being conferred the Order of ‘Oliy Darajali Dustlik’, Uzbekistan’s highest state award, the Hyderabad MP said, “I congratulate the BJP; the very country from which Babur came to India has conferred an award upon the Prime Minister.”
Owaisi noted that Babur belonged to the Fergana Valley in present-day Uzbekistan and said it has become routine for Prime Minister Modi to receive honours during his foreign visits.
“Wherever the Prime Minister goes these days, he returns with an award. Congratulations,” Owaisi said.
The AIMIM chief also took aim at the BJP and the broader Sangh Parivar over references to Babur in political discourse. “You used to shower so many insults in Babur’s name, yet the people of that very country are now honouring you with an award,” the MP added.
Owaisi said the development should prompt introspection within the RSS and its supporters.
“The Sangh needs to reflect on this. You used to abuse us, invoking Babur. And now you have been given a civilian award from the very place where Babur came from. We hope that people of the Sangh Parivar and those who support the RSS will no longer take Babur’s name in this manner, because the Fergana Valley is there, in Uzbekistan. Now what will they say? he asked.
PM Modi was conferred with Uzbekistan’s highest honour for foreign leaders on Sunday, the ‘Oliy Darajali Do’stlik’ Order, during his visit to the Central Asian country. The honour recognises his contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership and friendship between India and Uzbekistan.
“Honoured to receive the Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order. I dedicate this to the enduring bond between India and Uzbekistan,” Modi said in a social media post.
The Uzbek honour adds to a long list of top state and civilian awards conferred on Prime Minister Modi by nearly three dozen countries, recognising his leadership and contribution to strengthening bilateral ties.
In July, Indonesia conferred its highest civilian award, the ‘Bintang Adipurna’ of the Republic of Indonesia, on pm Modi for his contribution to strengthening ties between the two countries.
In June, Seychelles awarded the PM its highest national honour, the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’, in recognition of his leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable development.