As the nation is still discussing nationalism v/s anti-nationalism, one leader from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has given a new point by involving the Sikh community also in the discussion citing religious reasons.
As per a report published in a leading news daily, on Monday, Simranjit Singh Mann, President of SAD unit, Amritsar stated that as women are not worshipped in any form by the Sikhs, they can’t chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.”
Mann also targeted BJP by saying that people of other religions shouldn’t be forced to read the holy book Gita as it is happening in Haryana. SAD is BJP’s partner in government in Punjab as well as in Centre.
Asaduddin Owaisi, the President of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen and MP from Hyderabad started a controversy when he said that he won’t say “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, even if a knife is put on his throat. This is what he said, “I don’t chant that slogan. What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahib.” Owaisi was trying to challenge the RSS chief’s statement in which he said that there is a need to teach the new generation to hail Mother India. A case has been registered against Owaisi in Hyderabad on the directions of the local court.
An MLA of the same party, Waris Pathan, faced suspension from the Maharashtra Assembly after his refusal from saying “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.
