BJP trying to force Muslims, minorities to worship Hindu deities, says Owaisi; DMK slams Vande Mataram bill as 'fraud'

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the bill criminalizing insult to Vande Mataram, saying it forces Muslims and minorities to worship Hindu deities and violates Article 25.

DMK MP A Raja called the legislation a 'fraud' and said it is unconstitutional to exceed what the Constituent Assembly approved; he predicted it will not stand judicial scrutiny.

Congress MP KC Venugopal questioned the absence of Home Minister Amit Shah from Lok Sabha when the bill was taken up; MP Manickam Tagore also criticized Shah's absence.

Congress MP Tariq Anwar said the government should have taken opposition parties into confidence and that the bill imposes the government's views on people.

Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh called the bill's passage without discussion a 'black day' in India's history.