All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday cling to his call that he shall not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.

Taking on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Owaisi said that it is not mentioned in the Indian constituition to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' to prove his patriotism towards the country.

"I stand by on what I have said and no one can force me to say anything. How it's a violation of law, if I don't say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', he told.

"I follow the constitution of this country and it does not force me to say this. They (RSS) are trying to force their ideology and I'm ready to debate on this," he added.

Also Read: Bride Killed Before Wedding Night By Her Mother

His comments came against the backdrop of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's advise that the new generation must be taught to chant slogans praising Mother India.

On Sunday, Owaisi took a dig on Bhagwat at a public event in Maharashtra's Latur district, "I don't chant that slogan. What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahab?"

"I won't utter that (slogan) even if you put a knife to my throat. Nowhere in the Constitution, it is written that one should say Bharat Mata ki Jai", he stated.

Bhagwat had made the statement at a recent meeting of the RSS top brass, the reference being to the alleged anti-India slogans raised at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus.

"Now the time has come when we have to tell the new generation to chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' (hail mother India). It should be real, spontaneous and part of all-round development of the youth," the RSS chief had stated.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) heads lashed out at Owaisi citing his comments divisive.

"What is wrong in respecting the mother land? It is unfortunate to hear such words from a senior leader like Owaisi," stated BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli.

Another party leader Muqtar Abbas Naqvi said, "It is not about nationalism. We are not forcing anyone. What is wrong in praising the country? They are trying to divide people."