Bengaluru: Congress on Thursday lodged a criticism with the Chief Electoral Officer in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for invoking the title of Lord Hanuman in his election rallies in Karnataka. PM Modi in his election rally since May 2 has been hitting out on the Congress for promising a ban on the right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal and equated the ban with “locking up” Bajrangbali, Lord Hanuman. PM Modi additionally chanted ‘Jai Bajrangbali’ in all three speeches in Karnataka on Wednesday.
Congress Seeks EC Action Against PM
The Congress requested the Election Commission to restrain PM Modi from taking over the names of Hindu Gods, in keeping with the advisory. It additionally puzzled whether or not the ban on Sri Ram Sene some years in the past by then BJP chief minister Late Manohar Parrikar amounted to an insult to Lord Rama or if the BJP’s betrayal of Shiv Sena is taken into account an insult to Lord Shiva.
“The Prime Minister in his deal with at public rallies spoke critically of the Congress get together and in the melee tried to painting the Congress get together as anti-Hindu by taking the title of Lord Hanuman ie ‘Jai Bajrangbali’ solely with the intention of soliciting votes for the BJP and urging individuals to not vote for Congress,” the get together mentioned in its criticism.
#KarnatakaAssemblyElection | We have filed a criticism with the Election Commission of India in opposition to the marketing campaign of the BJP, the best way PM Modi is utilizing Hindu gods and goddesses to hunt votes and likewise the best way his roadshows are inflicting inconvenience to the individuals. SC has already… pic.twitter.com/nhrL9Kskha
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2023
The Congress requested the Commission ‘to pass orders which the commission deems fit to direct the Hon’ble Prime Minister to refrain from using the names of Hindu Gods/Goddesses in election rally/speech only for the purpose of soliciting votes in the name of religion.’
Meanwhile, Congress’s chairman of the media and publicity division Pawan Khera hit out on the BJP for its hypocrisy and utilizing the title of Hanuman solely to garner votes.
Quoting the BJP-led Central authorities’s reply in Parliament on the birthplace of Hanuman and Sita in a press convention, Khera mentioned, “BJP says the birthplace of any lord is a matter of faith. If that is the case, then why do they use them to garner votes? Why are they disregarding the existence of Gods and Goddesses? Do they need the Gods and Goddesses (only) during elections?”
Why BJP Banned Sri Ram Sene In Goa?
Khera additionally puzzled whether or not when the BJP banned Sri Ram Sene in Goa, it was an insult to Lord Ram and when the BJP betrayed the Shiv Sena, it was an insult to Lord Shiva or Shivaji. He referred to as the logic ridiculous and determined.
Congress chief Jairam Ramesh, who shared excerpts of Khera’s press convention, tweeted, “The Prime Minister’s hypocrisy, especially when in despair and desperation, has no limits! On 20th August 2014, his BJP colleague and CM of Goa Manohar Parrikar banned the Sri Ram Sene in the entire state. In 2020, the BJP govt in Goa again banned Sri Ram Sene for 60 days. Did the Prime Minister consider this an insult to Lord Ram.”
Bajrang Dal, VHP Conduct ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ Recitals
As introduced, many Bajrang Dal activists recited the “Hanuman Chalisa”, a set of 40 couplets authored by Sixteenth-century saint-poet Tulsidas in the Awadhi dialect of Hindi, in varied temples of the state to protest the promise of banning the Bajrang Dal.
#WATCH | Bengaluru: VHP and Bajrang Dal members recite ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ amid row over Congress manifesto mentioning ban on Bajrang Dal.#KarnatakaAssemblyElection pic.twitter.com/pMMH75A5zS
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2023
In Bengaluru, the principle occasion came about at Rama Mandir at Malleswaram, Ramanjaneya Temple at Ragi Gudda and Gali Anjaneya Swami Temple on Mysuru Road. Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shobha Karandlaje too attended the Hanuman Chalisa recital at Malleswaram. She later addressed the gathering.
Similar protests came about in Mangaluru, Belagavi, Mandya, Srirangapatna, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Chitradurga, Bidar, Vijayapura, Koppal, Ballari, Tumakuru, Chamarajanagara, Davangere, Kolar, Gadag, Bagalkote, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts.
