Patna: A controversy broke out during an event titled ‘Main Atal Rahunga’, held at Bapu Sabhagar on Wednesday evening, after folk singer Devi performed the iconic bhajan “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram“. The event, organised to commemorate former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, took a dramatic turn when a section of the audience objected to the inclusion of the verse “Ishwar Allah Tero Naam”, a line traditionally associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s message of communal harmony.
The protesters demanded the lyrics be changed. In response, Devi modified the line to “Shri Raghunandan Jai Siya Ram, Janaki Vallabh Sita Ram”, but the sloganeering persisted. Amid growing tensions, the singer apologised publicly, saying, “God belongs to all of us. If your heart is hurt, then I say sorry.” The incident ended with chants of “Jai Shri Ram” filling the auditorium.
Former Union minister Ashwini Choubey, along with other prominent leaders like deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, C P Thakur, Shahnawaz Hussain, Gopalji Thakur and Sanjay Paswan were present at the event. Choubey intervened to calm the situation, but the protests disrupted the performance.
Reacting to the incident, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Thursday criticized the BJP and its affiliates, accusing them of disrespecting women and the legacy of Sita Mata. He wrote on X, “Sanghis and BJP people hate the name and slogan of ‘Jai Siyaram, Jai Sitaram’ because it praises Mata Sita. These people are anti-women from the very beginning, and with the slogan of ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ they insult half of the population, women.”
Singer Devi said she was surprised the bhajan caused such an uproar. “No pressure was put on me to apologise. Even the organisers were scared when a section of the audience protested. Those who protested have shown their narrow-mindedness,” she said.