Kiren Rijiju Says Minorities Of Other Countries ‘Prefer India' After Owaisi's ‘Hostages' Remark

Last Updated:July 07, 2025, 16:54 IST

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi clashed on X over former's claim that minorities in India enjoy more benefits than the majority.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi (Image: PTI/ANI)

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday engaged in war of words on X (formerly Twitter) after the BJP leader claimed that minorities in India enjoy more benefits and protections than the majority.

While discussing the performance of his ministry on the completion of 11 years of Modi government in the Centre, Rijiju told the Indian Express Rijiju said in the interview that in the last 11 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has championed the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’.

During the interview he claimed that India is the only country where minorities enjoy more benefits than the majority.

“INDIA is the only country where the minorities get more benefits and protections than the majority community," Rijiju said in a post on X while sharing the interview.

“The approach has ensured that minority communities are active and equal participants in India’s growth story. The main point we have to understand is that minority communities are receiving more funds and support from the government than the majority community, the Hindus. Whatever the Hindus get, the minorities also do. But what the minorities get, the Hindus don’t," Rijiju told the national daily.

Owaisi’s Strong Response

The Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP countered Rijiju’s remarks and claimed that India’s minorities are not even second-class citizens anymore and are, in fact, ‘hostages.’

In a long post on the microblogging platform, Owaisi said Rijiju was not showing the true picture of what Indian Muslims go through and reminded him to follow his duties as a minister under the Constitution.

In a strong response, the AIMIM chief said that Rijiju was speaking like a ‘monarch’ instead of someone holding a constitutional post.

“You are a Minister of the Indian Republic, not a monarch Kiren Rijiju. You hold a  constitutional post, not a throne. Minority rights are fundamental rights, not charity," he said.

He questioned Rijiju’s idea of ‘benefits’ by pointing to the abuse and violence Muslims face.

“Is it a ‘benefit’ to be called Pakistani, Bangladeshi, jihadi, or Rohingya every single day? Is it ‘protection’ to be lynched? Is it protection that Indian citizens were kidnapped and pushed into Bangladesh?" Owaisi questioned.

Owaisi further raised concerns over the bulldozing of Muslim properties. “Is it a privilege to watch our homes, masjids, and mazaars being bulldozed illegally? To be made socially, politically, and economically invisible?" he added.

“Is it an ‘honour’ to be the target of hate speeches from no less than the Prime Minister of India?" he said.

Owaisi claimed that Muslims in India were no longer treated equally as citizens. “India’s minorities are not even second-class citizens anymore. We are hostages," he said.

Alleging that Rijiju should answer why there is no religious parity in board memberships, he said, “If you want to talk about ‘favours’, answer this: can Muslims be members of Hindu Endowment Boards? No. But your Waqf Amendment Act forces non-Muslims onto Waqf Boards — and allows them to form a majority."

The AIMIM leader further accused the Modi government of slashing key scholarships for Muslim students. He cited government data and said that Muslims are being left behind. “You discontinued the Maulana Azad Fellowship. You defunded the pre-matric scholarship. You limited the post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships. All because they benefited Muslim students," he added.

“Muslims are now the only group whose numbers have fallen in higher education. Their presence in the informal economy has gone up. They have been among the worst-hit by your economic policies. This is your own govt’s data," he added.

Furthermore, Owaisi said Muslim families are seeing a decline in progress across generations. “Indian Muslims are the only group whose children are now worse off than their parents or grandparents. Intergenerational mobility has reversed. Muslim-concentrated areas are the ones most starved of public infrastructure and basic services," he stated.

“We are not asking to be compared with other minorities of other countries. We are not asking for more than what the majority community gets. We are demanding what the Constitution promises: social, economic, and political justice," he concluded.

Rijiju’s Responds To Owaisi

The Union Minister later responded to the Hyderabad MP’s allegations saying that if the minorities are living in pathetic condition in India then why a major section of the minorities from the neighbouring countries prefer to come to India.

“Ok… How come Minorities from our neighbouring countries prefer to come to India & our Minorities don’t migrate? Prime Minister @narendramodi ji’s welfare schemes are for all. The schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs provide additional benefits to the Minorities," Rijiju responded.

Rijiju further said that the welfare schemes guaranteed by the Modi government provide additional benefits to the minorities.

Owaisi Responds To Rijiju

The Hyderabad MP soon responded to the Union Minister over migration of minorities and said that according to Rijiju, if the minorities don’t migrate it means they are happy.

“According to Hon’ble Minister Against Minorities, if we don’t migrate it means we are happy. Actually, we are not in the habit of fleeing: we did not run away from the British, we did not run away during partition, and we did not run away because of Jammu, Nellie, Gujarat, Moradabad, Delhi etc massacres. Our history is proof that we neither collaborate with our oppressors nor do we hide from them. We know how to fight for our democratic rights and we will inshallah. Stop comparing our great nation with failed states like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal & Sri Lanka. Jai Hind, Jai Samvidhan! Thank you for your attention in this matter!" he said.

He urged the minister to compare the Indian minorities with that of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

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