NEW DELHI: A bhajan performance turned political at a BJP-organised event in Bihar’s Patna on Wednesday when folk singer Devi sang Mahatma Gandhi’s version of “Raghupati Raghav”.
During the event organised on the occasion of BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary, some members sitting in the audience reportedly showed discontent as soon as Devi began singing the “Ishwar Allah” part of the song.
The singer tried to convince people not to protest and even apologised but nothing happened as the protestors started leaving the hall.
Later, ex-Union minister Ashwini Choubey reached on the stage and chanted “Jai Shri Ram”.
The entire incident lead to a strong criticism by the opposition INDIA bloc, with the Congress party and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) lashing out at the BJP, and its ideological mentor the RSS, for “insulting” Gandhi.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said with the slogan of “Jai Shri Ram” the BJP “insulted” half of the women population.
“Sanghis and BJP people hate the name and slogan of ‘Jai Siyaram, Jai Sitaram’ because it has the praise of Mother Sita. These people are anti-women from the very beginning and with the slogan of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ they insult half of the population, women,” Lalu said.
Bihar’s ex-chief minister further claimed: “Yesterday, in a programme, singer Devi sang Bapu’s bhajan in the auditorium built in his name and said ‘Sita Ram’, then the petty BJP members made her apologise on the mic and made her chant Jai Shri Ram instead of Jai Sita Ram. Why do these Sanghis insult women including ‘Sita Mata’?”
The Congress party, in a vitriolic attack at the BJP, said the country will be “run by the ideology of Gandhi and not Godse”. The grand-old party claimed the incident was a testament to how BJP “hated” Gandhi.
“On Atal ji’s birth anniversary, the government organised ‘I am Atal’ programme in Patna. In this, as soon as the folk singer Devi sang Gandhiji’s favourite hymn ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’, the BJP leaders sitting in front created a ruckus,” the party said.
“The folk singer was asked to apologise for singing Gandhiji’s hymn. This incident is a testament to how much hatred the RSS-BJP people have for Gandhiji. People with Godse’s ideology cannot respect Gandhiji. But they remember… This country will be run by the ideology of Gandhiji, not Godse,” it added.
The Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party also attacked the BJP over the incident and asked Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to withdraw his support from the ruling NDA.
“BJP members created a ruckus over singing Gandhi bhajan “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” and the singer was asked to apologize to the BJP members. Where is BJP taking this country? Are BJP members not even ready to listen to Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram Gandhi bhajans? Bihar CM Shri Nitish Kumar ji should immediately withdraw support from such BJP,” the SP media cell wrote on X.
