HYDERABAD: While AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi recently courted controversy by refusing to say ' Bharat Mata Ki Jai ', he has now clarified that he prefers the phrase ' Jai Hind ' and has even started using it more frequently."This is the slogan that was raised during the freedom struggle. 'Jai Hind' has no religious connotation," Owaisi told TOI. When contacted, the Hyderabad MP, who is out of the city, said it was sad that there had arisen a situation in the country when one had to prove one's nationalism by shouting certain slogans."I will say 'Jai Hind' and 'Hindustan Zindabad'," Owaisi said. Asked why he preferred the phrase 'Hindustan Zindabad', he said, "What is there to explain? Hindustan is Hindustan. It is the name of the country. Why would there be any other meaning to it?"It may be mentioned here that Owaisi had recently stated that he would never say 'Bharat Mata ki jai' even if a knife were put to his throat. "I am against anyone being forced to utter any slogan. One need not have to prove one's patriotism for the country by shouting some slogan that someone wants to be raised," Owaisi said.Over the law few days, Owaisi has made it a point to tweet 'Jai Hind' occasionally. Especially when he is retweeting news reports that are against the Hindutva brand of nationalism, Owaisi has been writing "Jai Hind" over them.On March 22, he tweeted, "Jai Hind, Pluralism Zindabad, Secularism Paaindabad." The meaning of 'Paaindabad' is 'long live'. He tweeted 'Jai Hind' over another post the same day.At a vantage point on Road No. 1 Banjara Hills, a huge hoarding has come up with Asad's picture on it with the slogan 'Hindustan Zindabad' written in English, Telugu and Urdu. It also carries his brother and MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi's photograph and of the person who put it up. "Yes, my followers are putting up the hoardings. Freedom of expression in the country is important. But no one should be forced to say anything to prove one's loyalty to the country," he said.