Patna: The JD(U) on Friday criticised the protests that erupted over a recitation of Mahatma Gandhi‘s famous bhajan ‘Ishwar-Allah‘ at an event marking the birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee here on Dec 25. JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar questioned the objections raised by a section of the audience.
“There is no greater devotee of Ram than Mahatma Gandhi. Bullets were fired at him and he said ‘Hey Ram’, Kumar said. He added that the BJP’s manifesto mentions ‘Gandhian socialism’, implying that those protesting the bhajan lyrics may not fully understand their own party’s ideology. “The people protesting over a portion of the bhajan are not aware of their party’s manifesto,” he said, suggesting that they were not truly representative of BJP supporters.
The incident occurred at Bapu Sabhagar during a commemorative event for Vajpayee, which included a rendition of Gandhi’s bhajan by folk singer Devi. Some members of the audience took issue with the inclusion of the words ‘Ishwar-Allah’, leading to protests. The singer apologised, saying, “I am sorry if anyone was hurt by my recital. Bhagwan sabke hain.” She also referred to the Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) but was unable to quell the unrest. Finally, she modified the lyrics to ‘Shri Raghunandan Jai Siyaram, Janaki Vallabh Sita Ram’ to calm the situation.
JD(U)’s Neeraj Kumar also raised concerns about the protesters’ broader understanding of Indian history and their behaviour. “If they have objections over certain references, why do they visit mosques to offer chadars?” Kumar asked, pointing out the contradictions in their actions. He hinted that such people lacked knowledge of both historical context and the principles of their own political party.