New Delhi : Amid a raging controversy over yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s remark that he would have “beheaded” those who refuse to chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” were it not for the law of the land, the Congress has come up with a set of questions for the RSS?
Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, while condemning the yoga guru for these remarks, said: ”As an elder, many people, including some of us, respect him but to make deliberately provocative statements of beheading people is just the complete negation of law of the land but is also an intentional provocation for the people to resort to the path of violence. It is reprehensible and condemnable.’’
A Haryana Minister Anil Vij has come out in support of the yoga guru’s statement, even as a Chandigarh-based Congressman Subhash Batra, a former minister, has filed a police complaint and said if a first information report is not filed, he will move court.
But for the Congress party the larger issue is pretty different. “The BJP/ RSS leaders have indulged in insulting important ‘national symbols’ with the sole aim of creating disharmony and fault lines in the society to suit their political narrative. RSS Sarsanghchalak Bh-aiyyaji Joshi has raised questions about the nation’s Tricolour, by stating that it is no different from the saffron flag, and this is nothing short of an insult of a national symbol,” said Surjewala.
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Going back into the history of the freedom struggle, the Congress spokesperson recalled instances when RSS leaders — Dr K B Hedgewar and M S Golwalkar — had spoken about their saffron flag. He quoted Golwalkar as saying: ”‘The saffron flag is the glorious symbol of India’s cultural history, and also symbolises our gods. This is the reason why we believe this is the only flag that we will salute. We have full faith and are certain that in the future this is the flag that the entire Nation will salute.”
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Nashik: Amid the raging debate over nationalism, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that those unwilling to say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ have no right to stay in the country.
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The Congress spokesperson said that by raising these issues about the nation flag Bhaiyyaji Joshi is liable for penal action under Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. “Divisive politics over nation’s symbols is unacceptable and we want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explicitly clarify his stance on this issue because his silence would mean he is in agreement with Bhaiyyaji Joshi and the RSS,” he added.
Referring to the issue of the national anthem, the Jan Gana Mana, Surjewala said that the RSS has pitted it against the national song ‘Vande Mataram’. “This is yet another sinister attempt by the RSS-BJP to rewrite history, create divide and reduce the significance of these songs that are pride of all Indians. The very statement of RSS that ‘Vande Mataram’ instils more patriotism than ‘Jan Gana Mana’ is a deliberate insult to both. It also pitches one against the other. The Congress celebrates, takes pride in and sings both ‘Jan Gana Mana’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ on every important occasion as both the ‘National Anthem’ and the ‘National Song’ have a place of pride and reverence in India’s rich history. Our simple question to the RSS is – Will it give up singing its own anthem in its every shakha and at least now sing the ‘national anthem’ and the ‘national song’ i.e. ‘Jan Gana Mana’ or even ‘Vande Mataram,” he added.
Insult to Tricolour In House?
Mumbai : The opposition parties in the legislative assembly on Monday faced much flak when some of their members were accused of dishonouring the Tricolour, even as they sought an apology from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his alleged remarks over the chanting of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Speaker Haribhau Bagde has promised to look at the footage and made it clear that stern action would be taken against members who are found guilty.
Earlier in the day, just as question hour ended, pandemonium broke out when leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil moved an adjournment motion saying that minorities are being made to wear patriotism on their sleeve and that the CM must apologise for his statements.
Congress members, who had taken umbrage at RSS general secretary Suresh Joshi’s statement that the RSS saffron flag is no different from the Tricolour, started waiving miniature national flags. However, while doing so, some of the members held the Tricolour upside down and treasury members were quick to describe it as a violation of the flag code.
The issue was kept pending as the Speaker was not in the chair. In the evening, when the speaker was back, Shelar raised the issue. “I have seen video clips where certain members from the opposition held the Tricolour upside down. One member is seen wiping his mouth with the Tricolour and some others are seen carrying it as if it is a carry-bag,” he said. The speaker will give a decision on Tuesday.
