NEW DELHI: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stirred controversy by asserting that the nationalist slogans โBharat Mata Ki Jaiโ and โJai Hindโ were coined by Muslims. Speaking at a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Vijayan attributed the origin of โBharat Mata Ki Jaiโ to Azimullah Khan, a 19th-century prime minister to Maratha Peshwa Nana Saheb, and โJai Hindโ to former diplomat Abid Hasan.
ALSO READ: BJP nominates 6 Congress turncoats in Himachal Pradesh
Vijayan criticised the Sangh Parivar for promoting these slogans while advocating for Muslims to leave India for Pakistan. He urged them to acknowledge the historical contributions of Muslims to these slogans. The Kerala BJP leader, P K Krishnadas, questioned whether Vijayan and other Left leaders would be willing to chant these slogans given their Muslim origins.
Responding to Vijayanโs remarks, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused him of engaging in divisive politics for electoral gain, asserting that such tactics would not resonate with the public. Vijayanโs comments come amid ongoing debates surrounding the implementation of the CAA, with the opposition accusing the Modi government of religious discrimination in granting citizenship.
ALSO READ: Failed terrorist attack on Pakistani Naval Air Base, Balochistan
The controversy sparked by Vijayanโs remarks underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding identity politics and communal narratives in India. As the country grapples with the implications of the CAA, Vijayanโs comments highlight the complex interplay of religion, history, and nationalism in the nationโs political discourse. Whether his assertions will lead to a broader reevaluation of the origins of these nationalist slogans remains to be seen.
