New Delhi – AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi delivered a fiery speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday, questioning the government’s strategic consistency and diplomatic posturing in the wake of India’s retaliatory strikes under “Operation Sindoor” against terror infrastructure based in Pakistan, reported the Siasat.
While beginning his speech by acknowledging the bravery and precision of the Indian armed forces, Owaisi strongly criticised what he called the government’s “selective nationalism.” He questioned why foreign leaders, including the U.S. President, were permitted to announce the ceasefire while Indian authorities remained silent.
“A white man sitting in the White House announces ceasefire—this is your nationalism?” Owaisi asked pointedly. He emphasised that India is a sovereign nation and should not allow other countries to dictate its defence or foreign policy decisions.
Owaisi also took issue with the continued cultural and sporting ties with Pakistan, especially in cricket, despite the suspension of trade and border movement. “On what grounds are you going to play cricket with them?” he asked, arguing that such contradictions weaken India’s counter-terrorism stance.
Further, he called for accountability within India’s security establishment, suggesting that lapses at the level of Lieutenant Governors, intelligence agencies, or police should lead to action. He raised concerns about China’s possible role in supplying arms to Pakistan and criticised the government’s silence on this issue, questioning why no diplomatic protest had been lodged.
Referencing global leaders like Yugoslavia’s Tito and France’s Charles de Gaulle, Owaisi said that sovereign nations must act independently. He also invoked former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral, who he said never compromised national security despite criticism.
Owaisi pressed the government for clarity on defence preparedness, including questions about whether France had withheld source codes for Rafale fighter jets. He highlighted the worrying gap in India’s defence capability—mentioning that India currently has only 29 functioning squadrons against a sanctioned 42, while Pakistan has 25, and China boasts over 50 squadrons along with a more advanced submarine fleet.
Calling for renewed international pressure on Pakistan through platforms like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Owaisi concluded his address by quoting revolutionary freedom fighter Ashfaqulla Khan—“Apne haathon se sir katana hai”—to underline the importance of self-reliant and uncompromising national defence.
He concluded with a critical question: Did China ask us to agree to the ceasefire? Owaisi warned that contradictions in government messaging could erode both public trust and the country’s strategic credibility. He called for depoliticising issues of national security and foreign policy to ensure India’s long-term sovereignty and defence integrity.
