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India Today Conclave 2017: I am an Indian Muslim, is it a threat to the country: Asaduddin Owaisi

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DailyBiteMar 18, 2017 | 10:07

India Today Conclave 2017: I am an Indian Muslim, is it a threat to the country: Asaduddin Owaisi

The biggest question facing the nation at present is that of identity, and how it impacts our relationship with India. The spate of communal incidents, the highly polarised election campaigns, the issue of freedom of speech, the idea of "azadi" and sloganeering to that end, the question of the university, higher education, majoritarianism in democracy, etc are all linked to the idea of what it means to be an Indian.

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At India Today #Conclave17, a vibrant and no-holds-barred debate on what's ailing the idea of India and Indians rocked the dais at Mumbai's Grand Hyatt.

The discussants at the session titled "The Great Debate: A Million Mutinies | What Makes an Indian" included the following public figures: Sajjad Lone, minister for social welfare, ARI and trainings and science and technology, Jammu and Kashmir government; Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen and Lok Sabha MP; Dipankar Gupta, sociologist; Sukhadeo Thorat, chairman, ICSSR; TM Krishna, musician; Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, RSS.

The session was moderated by India Today TV's Rahul Kanwal, managing editor and the journalist who isn't afraid of asking unsettling questions to prominent politicians and public intellectuals.

Here are the highlights of the debate:

On being Muslim in India

Unfortunately, what happened in Uttar Pradesh is shamshan won over qabrastan: Asaduddin Owaisi.

Anyone who doesn't agree with the idea of Hindu state is not a nationalist:Asaduddin Owaisi.

India is a vibrant democracy: Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.

UP Assembly polls

Uttar Pradesh election verdict is all about exclusive development: Asaduddin Owaisi.

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Modi had all majorities by his side in UP and his message for minorities was go take a walk: Dipankar Gupta.

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Photo: Indiatoday.in

On Congress

There is a reading on the wall which Congress just refuses to read: Dipankar Gupta.

Rahul Gandhi is no competition. A leader equal to Modi has to be brought in: Dipankar Gupta.

Days for dynasty politics are gone: Asaduddin Owaisi.

On Kashmir

There has been no change in Kashmir in particular: Sajjad Lone.

Either you accept democracy or you reject it: Sajjad Lone.

We are very happy with the NDA government: Sajjad Lone.

Kashmiris very much Indians like anyone else: Sajjad Lone.

On challenging Modi

If you have to defeat Modi, don't become a junior Modi, there has to be a difference. Convince the people, work hard: Owaisi.

On Jallikattu and Tamil identity

Jallikattu is a complex issue and needs to be seen with great sensitivity: TM Krishna.

Democracy changes, it can't be spoken in white and black: TM Krishna.

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Jallikattu issue got mass support but it was a caste issue. It is a complex issue. Half of the people who gathered at Marina were not aware what Jallikattu was: TM Krishna.

On democracy

Democracy is a very difficult thing. It’s the most delicate of political systems, and everyone must come forward, participate as citizens first: Dipankar Gupta.

Marginalised voices are being suppressed: Krishna.

There's complete freedom of worshipping whichever god you like. Unless there is no difference of opinion there will be no democracy, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.

Voices favourable to the establishment will not be suppressed: Owaisi.

Problem is not with minorities but with their spokespersons: Dipankar Gupta.

I am an Indian Muslim, is it a threat to the country: Owaisi.

The need is to secularise our politics. The minority feels insecure because the majority tends to get a religious base. We are a working democracy. We can't deny the fact that state after state we have the government which has people from the majority caste:  Sukhadeo Thorat.

BJP is forcing us to fall in line, which is unfair: Owaisi.

Last updated: March 19, 2017 | 18:35
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