Devendra Fadnavis

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis kicked off a fresh controversy by saying that those who are unwilling to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ have no right to live in the country. Despite attracting flak over the reaction, Mr Fadnavis on Sunday strongly defended his remarks while speaking with The Asian Age. The CM’s statement also came as a surprise to BJP and RSS members, especially after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said that the slogan should not be forced on anyone.

Criticising people for not chanting the slogan, the CM said that they have malafide intentions. “Appeasement and freedom of expression also have some limits. It’s not about the sentence, but it’s about those thousands and thousands of freedom fighters who gave their life saying ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Those who oppose it have malafide intentions,” Mr Fadnavis said. His earlier remarks had come when he spoke at Nashik on Saturday in a party meeting.

When questioned about slogans like Jai Hind, which was given by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the CM said, “We have no problem if somebody says Jai Hind, Jai Bharat, Jai Hindustan. We have an objection if someone says ‘won’t say Bharat Mata Ki Jai’,” he said.

The chief minister even refuted claims that the slogan is related to a particular religion. “I mentioned yesterday (in Nashik) that the slogan has nothing to do with religion. I bow before the nearly 500 Muslim clerics who not only hoist the national flag at Hazrat Baba Makdum Darga at Mahim, but also shout the slogan ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Those who oppose the slogan are divisive forces that want to create a rift in our country.

Why should we tolerate it ” he said.

He countered allegations that the issue of slogans was diverting attention from real issues in the state and blamed the media for blowing up the issue. “In my 50-minute speech, for 45 long minutes I spoke about Maharashtra’s drought situation and development. I spoke on the ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and Shani Shingnapur issue only for 5 minutes. But the media picked only ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and that too only a part of it. It clearly proves that a section of the media is interested in stoking controversies and the issue has been raised to divert attention from real issues,” he said.