A BJP-organised event in Patna sparked off a massive political row after a folk-singer performed a rendition of Mahatma Gandhi’s version of ‘Raghupati Raghav Rajaram..’ bhajan, inviting protests from a section of the audience.
The event was organised on the occasion of late former prime minister A.B. Vajpayee’s birth anniversary. As the singer, Devi, sang the “Eeshwar Allah Tere Naam” line, some members of the audience reportedly showed discontent.
The singer tweaked the line as "Shri Raghunandan Jai Siya Ram, Janaki Vallabh Sita Ram", but the protest continued.
Though the singer clarified that she only intended to remember Ram and that God belongs to all of us, the protesters were not convinced and many of them started leaving the hall.
The singer later tendered an apology, but sought to remind the audience about the largeheartedness of the Indian culture.
"I sang this song for Lord Ram. You know our Indian culture is large-hearted. Hindus are the only ones who accept everyone. You must not get hurt by this song. If you are hurt, I want to say sorry," she said, according to an NDTV report.
Devi left the venue after singing a Chhath song by renowned singer Padma Bhushan Sharda Sinha, who died recently.
The incident stirred up a political storm with the INDIA bloc parties accusing the BJP and the RSS of “insulting” Mahatma Gandhi.
“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,” RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said in a social media post.
The Congress alleged that the incident was a testament to how the BJP “hatred” Mahatma Gandhi, and said the country will by run by the ideology of Gandhi and not Godse.
"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 siad.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, too, hit out at the saffron party and asked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to withdraw his support from ruling NDA.
