A day after saying those who refuse to chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” had no right to stay in India, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday blamed the media for stirring up a controversy, and said those refusing to raise the slogan had “mala fide interests and intentions.”
Mr. Fadnavis’ initial remarks reportedly came at a BJP rally in Nashik on Saturday. A news report quoted him as saying: “Some people are raising anti-India slogans, and some are refusing to say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai.’ Those who refuse to say the slogan have no right to stay in India.”
Another report quoted him as asking: “Why should I feel ashamed of saying it in my own country?”
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A report in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna quoted him as saying, “While residing in this country, some people say they will not chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Kai’ and Vande Mataram.’ I condemn them. This is a question of India’s existence. We should invoke Bharat Mata and say Vande Mataram. The Hindus and Muslims here love each other.”
However, on Sunday Mr. Fadnavis issued a statement saying he spoke on ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and Shani Shingnapur issues for only five minutes in his 50-minute speech. “It clearly proves that a section of media is interested in creating controversy only,” the statement added.
The media reports, he said, did not mention that he praised Muslim clerics who hoisted the national tricolour during the Urs at the Mahim dargah and also chanted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai.’ Mr. Fadnavis said, “We absolutely have no problem if somebody says ‘Jai Hind’ or ‘Jai Bharat’ or ‘Jai Hindustan’, but all we object to is when someone says, ‘I won’t say Bharat Mata Ki Jai.’ There is a limit to appeasement too.”
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“It is not merely about the slogan but it is about those lakhs and lakhs of freedom fighters who sacrificed their life chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai, about those thousands and thousands of soldiers who selflessly attained martyrdom chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” he said in his statement.
“Those who are opposing it have mala fide interests and intentions. They are those divisive forces who want to create a rift in our country and wish to break the unity. Why should we tolerate it,” the Chief Minister's statement added.
The controversy comes days after RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi claimed that ‘Vande Mataram’ was the real national anthem, while Jana Gana Mana was the “constitutionally mandated” one.
Joining issue with Mr. Fadnavis, Congress leader P.C. Chako said in New Delhi, “Every individual has freedom. Dictating what others should do is against the basic tenets of our democracy.
“People have the freedom. People have the right. People have the discretion what to say and what not to say.”
(With inputs from PTI)