New Delhi: Known for playing the role of Lord Ram on television, actor-turned-politician Arun Govil’s posts have stirred a controversy.
In several posts on X (formerly Twitter), Govil used the name and images of a Hindu deity to solicit votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Govil (66) is the Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
After The Wire tweeted about Govil flaunting photo frames of Lord Ram and donning saffron scarves with Lord Ram’s image and ‘Jai Shri Ram’ emblazoned on them, in his campaign and meetings, the district administration said it had issued a notice to him.
“Notice has been issued to Mr Arun Govil, candidate Bharatiya Janata Party, 10-Meerut PC,” Deepak Meena, Meerut district magistrate and the election officer said on April 10 in response to The Wire’s tweet dated April 8.
Notice has been issued to Mr Arun Govil, candidate Bhartiya Janta Party , 10-Meerut PC
— DM Meerut (@DmMeerut) April 10, 2024
Meerut votes on April 26, in the second phase of the 2024 election.
Using religious symbols to appeal for votes is considered a ‘corrupt’ practice under Section 123 (3) of the Representation of The People Act, 1951.
Lord Ram features prominently in Arun Govil’s campaign
A quick look at Govil’s campaign shows that he has freely referred to Lord Ram in his speeches and also shared images and posts about the Hindu deity and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya ever since he filed his nomination on April 2.
Govil was born in Meerut and shot to fame by playing the character of Lord Ram in the popular television series ‘Ramayan’, which aired in 1987 and 1988.
In his speeches, parts of which Govil himself posted on his X account, he describes voting for him and the margin of his victory as a test of the magnitude of faith people have in Lord Ram. While addressing a public gathering after his nomination, Govil referred to himself as “Ram” who had returned home to contest election.
“The nation’s eyes are on [Meerut] and this question will be asked [when] Ram was fielded from Ram’s home, how many votes did he get, by what record margin did he win?” Govil said.
His X page shared the clip under a big, bold caption, “Ram ji ki Ghar Vapasi.”
On April 4, Govil shared another short clip on his X page where he can be seen directly linking votes for him to the “intensity and percentage” of faith people had in Lord Ram.
“…What is the intensity and percentage of faith and obeisance towards Ram? Do we just raise slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ or are we going to prove it as well? If a record victory is not achieved, then you will be questioned: why did it happen in a city where a person who played the character of Ram returned home? You will have to do this for that person and yourself, not for Arun Govil. You must showcase how much faith you have in your hearts for Shri Ram.”
Ram features prominently in Govil’s campaign trail, be it in his roadshows in the form of flags or photo frames, or in the form of Ram scarves during indoor meetings. He has also chosen to publicise such photos and items on his social media.
On April 9, Govil, in a meeting with doctors, posted a photo of him holding a frame of the Ram temple. The frame had the lotus – the BJP’s election symbol – all over its edges.
On April 8, Govil posted a photo of a girl holding an image of him as Ram, during his campaign in a village in Meerut. Then, there are posts where Govil is pictured receiving a photo frame of Ram.
On April 6, he shared a short clip where he speaks on the lessons people can draw from the story of Ram. On the same day, he also shared a video posted by the BJP’s UP unit on the benefits accrued from building a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
BJP candidate Arun Govil at the Doctor’s Dialogue Conference in Meerut. Photo: X@arungovil12
“From the enthusiasm, affection and love of the people in every village of Meerut, it is clear that Ram rajya is about to arrive. Jai Shri Ram,” Govil posted on April 5 when he was presented with photos of Ram and the Ram temple.
Other than the use of Ram in his campaign, Govil, who replaced a sitting BJP MP in Meerut, has also made negative headlines for being unable to list the issues he would address in his constituency. In some interviews to local media, he said he was right now focused on campaigning for the election and would learn about the issues in his constituency after being elected.
That Govil is seeking votes through the evocation of the Hindu deity is not surprising as even the tallest campaigner of the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has evoked Ram in his election speeches.
On April 6, while campaigning in Saharanpur in west UP, Modi said that the “grand temple of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya” was “not an election announcement” for the BJP but “it has been our mission.”
“The Ram Navami this time, Prabhu Ram will not give darshan in a tent but in a grand temple. It is a [matter of] pride for our generation,” he said.
On April 9, while addressing a public meeting in Pilibhit, Modi asked voters to not forget the “sin” that Opposition parties had committed by not visiting the Ram Mandir on January 22 when its consecration ceremony took place.
Modi linked Pilibhit to Ayodhya, saying that a massive flute had been gifted from this district for the Ram Mandir. He accused the INDIA bloc of displaying continuous “hatred” towards the Ram Mandir and said the Opposition parties had “insulted” Ram by rejecting the invitation of attending the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.
“You did whatever you could in the court to prevent the construction of the Ram Mandir. You did all you could to ensure that the temple is not built. But when the people of this country got this temple constructed through their donations, and when the people of the temple forgave you for all your sins and respectfully invited you for the Pran Prathistha, you rejected it. You insulted Prabhu Ram,” said Modi.
