‘Sadakchaap Aadmi’: Asaduddin Owaisi Blasts Pak Army Chief Asim Munir Over Nuclear Threat
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, for his recent nuclear threat against India, labelling his words as “condemnable” and saying he spoke like a ‘sadakchaap aadmi’ (a common man on the street). The fiery condemnation from the Indian MP adds to a chorus of outrage from across the political spectrum in India, with leaders demanding a robust response to the “dangerous and inflammatory” rhetoric.
Speaking to reporters, Owaisi slammed Munir for issuing such threats while on a visit to the United States, which he pointed out is a strategic partner of India. “Pakistan army chief’s words and his threats are condemnable. What’s unfortunate is that this is happening from the US… He is speaking like a ‘sadakchaap aadmi’,” Owaisi said. He urged the Indian government to remain vigilant against the persistent threat from the Pakistani military and its “deep state,” calling for an increase in the defence budget to ensure the nation’s preparedness.
The AIMIM leader’s comments followed strong reactions from the Congress party. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh called Munir’s statements “dangerous, inflammatory, and completely unacceptable,” while MP Shashi Tharoor asserted that India “won’t surrender to nuclear blackmail” and knows how to handle such threats. Another Congress MP, Pramod Tiwari, suggested Munir’s warning to “take half the world down” was a direct threat to the US and Russia, questioning why any world leader would engage with someone who makes such remarks.
The controversy was sparked by Munir’s statements during a visit to Tampa, Florida, where he reportedly warned that Islamabad could take “almost half of the world” down if faced with an existential threat in a conflict with New Delhi. He also threatened to destroy any dams India builds on the Indus River and reiterated anti-India rhetoric by describing Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and an unresolved international issue.
