LUCKNOW: ‘Jai Sri Ram‘ is not a communal slogan but a symbol of faith, UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Monday asserted, trashing opposition’s suggestion that chanting the slogan and allowing Hindu processions to pass through Muslim-dominated localities provoked violence in Sambhal and Bahraich.
“If a Muslim procession can pass through a Hindu locality and in front of a temple, why not a Hindu procession through Muslim area?” he asked, & emphasised that India would be run by the “traditions of Ram, Krishna and Buddha, and not by that of Babur and Aurangzeb”.
Speaking in the assembly during a discussion on Sambhal violence, Yogi said: “People often greet each other with ‘Ram Ram’. Even during a funeral procession, the name of Ram is chanted… Ram ke bina toh humara koi kaam hi nahin hota… toh Jai Sri Ram kaise sampradayik nara ho gaya (Nothing happens without invoking the name of Lord Ram. How can ‘Jai Sri Ram’ be a communal slogan?).”
In Bahraich, all arrangements were made to carry forward the traditional procession; yet, there were allegations that provocative slogans were raised. “Let me clarify: the slogan ‘Jai Sri Ram’ is not provocative. It is a slogan of our faith and a symbol of our belief… Tomorrow, if I say I don’t like the slogan ‘Allah Hu Akbar,’ will you agree with me?”
Yogi said in Sambhal, the administration and police were merely following direction of court that ordered a survey of the masjid site, and the trouble started after Friday namaz and sermons. “What happened thereafter is before everyone to see,” he said, adding that his govt would get the incident investigated by a judicial commission and table its report in the assembly.
