Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Saturday launched a sharp attack on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi over his remark that India will one day have a hijab-clad woman as Prime Minister, saying such a possibility does not exist in India and accusing Owaisi of harbouring divisive ambitions.

Reacting to Owaisi’s statement, Nirupam said, "A hijab-wearing woman may certainly become a Prime Minister, but not of India. She could become the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Bangladesh, or some Gulf country. And if Owaisi has such a strong dream of making a hijab-wearing woman the Prime Minister, then, just like the Razakars of that time, he should go to Pakistan as soon as possible and try making a hijab-wearing woman the Prime Minister there."

His remarks came after Owaisi, addressing an election rally in Maharashtra’s Solapur ahead of the January 15 civic polls, said a hijab-clad woman would one day become India’s Prime Minister, citing constitutional equality for all citizens.

Owaisi said, "The Constitution of Pakistan says that only a person belonging to one religion can become the country's prime minister or the president. But the Constitution, written by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, clearly states that any citizen can become the prime minister, the chief minister of a state or even a mayor."

He added, "By the grace of Almighty, the day will come, when neither I nor the present generation will be around, but a daughter wearing a hijab would become the prime minister of India."

Targeting the ruling party, Owaisi further said, "I am confident that the day will surely come...The hate you are spreading against Muslims will not last long."

The AIMIM chief also appealed to voters not to support candidates fielded by the parties of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (BJP), Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) and Ajit Pawar (NCP), or those backed by them. Referring to the debate over who will become Mumbai’s mayor, Owaisi said such discussions surface only during elections.

He alleged that Fadnavis, Shinde and Pawar were misleading people and urged voters to give them a "befitting reply" in the polls, adding, "We will not become victims of your conspiracy."

Owaisi also accused the ruling parties of not running the government as per the Constitution, saying, "The foundation of their rule is hatred. They claim to be friends of minorities and Dalits, but they are not. They are also not doing anything for farmers."