AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has said Bharat is "not a Hindu Rashtra" and they will also not let it become so. His comments came after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat last week said the Sangh is firm on its vision that "Bharat is a Hindu Rashtra".
Addressing an election rally on Monday night in Kalyan town of Maharashtra's Thane district for party candidate Aiaz Moulavi, Mr Owaisi said a section of society wants to paint the entire country in one colour, but "we see Hindustan in multiple colours, it is the beauty of Hindustan".
"Bharat is not a Hindu Rashtra, and Inshallah, we will not allow it to become so," he said.
Alleging that the Shiv Sena was against the green colour, he said, "Change your spectacles and you will see the green colour in the national flag also."
He said Bharat is unique because of its secularism and pluralism. There is no other country in the world as Bharat and "we are proud of it".
"I want to tell those in the RSS that we are not living here on your sympathy. If you want to measure the index of my happiness or sorrow, you and we should see what the Constitution has given to us," Mr Owaisi said.
He also said that the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) has established itself in Aurangabad because of its own efforts.
"We will spread to other parts of the state also. You cannot stop us," he said.
Mr Owaisi also said that the NDA government was patting its own back by banning the practice of triple talaq, but was not aware of the woes of members of the Muslim community.
He demanded that members of the minority community be provided reservation for their progress and development.
"If Women Are Given Freedom, They Can Help Everyone Grow": RSS Chief "We Perform Last Rites Of Evil Forces When They Reach India": RSS Chief RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's Security Upgraded, Now On Par With Amit Shah AAP Asks Its Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal To Quit Over Atishi Remarks LIVE: Arvind Kejriwal Resigns, Atishi To Be Delhi Chief Minister "Your Duty...": Chief Justice On Bengal's 'No Night Shift For Women' Note Giorgia Meloni's Far-Right Ally Raffaele Fitto Gets Top European Union Role Class 11 Student On Way To Coaching Centre Raped In UP: Police Pics: Supercars Line Up At The World's Largest Temple, Tourists Stunned Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.