New Delhi: Following the footsteps of her husband Javed Akhtar, actress Shabana Azmi on Friday hit out at All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi over his refusal to chant 'Bharat mata ki jai'.

Speaking at a conclave in the national capital, Shabana Azmi said, "I would like to ask Owaisi sahab, would he be OK saying 'Bharat ammi ki jai' instead of Bharat mata, if he has got a problem with 'mata' and not 'bharat'."

On Tuesday, noted lyricist and Shabana Azmi's husband, Javed Akhtar, had, without naming Owaisi, attacked the Hyderabad MP for the refusal, saying: "He said he will not say `Bharat mata ki jai` as the Constitution does not require him to say so. The Constitution even does not ask him to wear sherwani (dress) and topi (cap)... I don`t care to know whether saying `Bharat mata ki jai` is my duty or not, it is my right."

Accompanying his wife at the event, Akhtar today said he would contest elections against the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader if given a constituency with Hindus and Muslims in equal numbers.

Rejecting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion for infusing patriotism, Owaisi had on Sunday said he will not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' even if a knife is put to his throat.