A usually staid swearing-in procedure for Indian parliamentarians turned controversial when veteran opposition legislator Asaduddin Owaisi chanted ‘Jai Palestine’ after taking his oath. ‘Jai’, meaning victory in Sanskrit, can be translated as ‘Long live’. He was accused by colleagues from the ruling BJP of violating his constitutional pledge by showing loyalty to another nation, a charge he denied. During the ceremony, Owaisi swore his oath in Urdu, pledging loyalty to the country’s constitution - but then chanted ‘Jai Bhim, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Filisteen’. Each slogan represents various communities and regions: ‘Jai Bhim’ for Dalits, ‘Jai Meem’ referring to his party AIMIM, ‘Jai Telangana’ for his home state, and ‘Jai Filisteen’ for Palestine. This incident, amid India's complex political landscape, highlights his advocacy for minority and Dalit rights. He has been an MP from Hyderabad since 2004 and president of AIMIM since 2008, and is known for his fiery oratory in Parliament.