All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and said that the Hindu organisation does not believe in the Constitution of India.

Owaisi’s statement was a reaction to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement in Chicago, United States, stating that, “If a lion is alone, wild dogs can invade and destroy the lion. We must not forget that.”

Speaking to ANI, Owaisi said, “So who are dogs and who is the lion? Indian Constitution defines everyone as humans and does not treat anyone as dogs or lions. The problem with RSS is that they don’t believe in the Indian constitution.”

"RSS demeans people by comparing them with dogs and referring themselves as tigers. This has been the language of RSS since 90 years and I am not surprised. People of India will reject such crude language,” he added.

Owaisi also said that Article 35A is “very important for Indian interest.”

“People in Jammu are saying that Article 35A should be retained. Article 35A is essential and will remain part of the Constitution,” Owaisi added.

Article 35A of the Indian Constitution empowers the Jammu and Kashmir's legislature to define permanent residents of the State and provide special rights and privileges to the permanent residents. However, it also does not allow people from residing in Jammu and Kashmir, buying or owning immovable property in the State, settling permanently, or getting State government jobs. 

The Supreme Court has deferred the hearing of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35A until January 2019.