Is It Right To Raise Any Kind Of Slogans At Central Government Events?
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2022-12-31 06:55:04
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It is unfortunate that BJP supporters in Bengal continue to raise slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram' when any Central government function is organized in the state and especially when Prime Minister Modi and state chief minister Mamata Banerjee are attending. The miscreants were at it again on Friday when the Vande Bharat Express was being flagged off from Howrah station virtually by Prime Minister Modi (he could not attend the function in person due to the unfortunate demise of his mother Heeraben the same day).
Although there is no harm in singing praises of Lord Rama which all Hindus are entitled to do, the fact is that the slogan 'Jai Shri Ram' has acquired political connotations on being repeatedly chanted at rallies and functions of the BJP or other pro-Hindutva organizations. This is not liked by Mamata Banerjee who is given to admonish people for raising it in her presence. Hence, to maintain the decorum and the dignity of the event, the BJP should take steps to prevent people from raising this slogan at such events.
In the past, Mamata Banerjee had got down from her car during campaigning to admonish people for raising the slogan. In 2021, during a Central government event to mark Netaji's birth anniversary celebrations in which Prime Minister Modi was on stage with her, Mamata Banerjee cut short her speech when 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans were raised and called it 'humiliation' and 'politicization of a dignified affair'. In Howrah yesterday, she refused to take the dais and sat in the front row meant for spectators after Union Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other BJP leaders failed to silence the crowd that was raising the slogan.
Although it is difficult to prevent people from raising any kind of slogan once they are admiited to attend any event, the BJP can warn its supporters not to raise the 'Jai Shri Ram' or any kind of slogans at Central events. Mamata Banerjee is right - it spoils the dignity of such events. Help should be taken from CCTV cameras to identify the miscreants if they fail to heed the warning and appropriate disciplinary action should be taken against them. Once the message percolates down the line that such behaviour will not be tolerated, maybe these people will fall in line.
