New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has said that his party will not comply with the Election Commission (EC)’s notice to remove the words “Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji” and “Hindu ha tujha dharma” from their campaign song ahead of the 2024 elections.
“We will not remove these words under any circumstance,” he said, according to The Hindu, asking why the poll panel had not taken any action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he used “Bajrang Bali ki Jai” during the Karnataka assembly elections. “It should first act against PM Modi who while campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly elections had asked people to say “Jai Bajrang Bali” and press the button on EVMs. (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah had told people to vote for the BJP to get Ram Lalla darshan for free in Ayodhya,” Thackeray said.
According to him, the song was released to launch Shiv Sena (UBT)’s new symbol, the mashal (flaming torch). He defended the use of “Hindu” and “Jai Bhavani” citing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s establishment of Hindavi Swaraj with the blessings of goddess Tulja Bhavani, and said this was not a call for votes in the name of religion. “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded Hindavi Swaraj with the blessings of goddess Tulja Bhavani. We are not asking for votes in the name of the goddess or Hindu religion. This is an insult and will not be tolerated,” he claimed.
The EC’s silence on Modi’s speeches that seek votes in the name of religion and make communal remarks has raised eyebrows. Most recently in Rajasthan on Sunday, Modi was dwelling not on Hinduism but attacking India’s Muslims, suggesting they were “infiltrators” and the opposition if elected would give away “mangalsutras” and “land” of those listening to his speech to them.
