• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Tue, 26 Mar 2024 09:40 PM (IST)
  • Source:ANI
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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stroked a fresh controversy with a statement wherein he claimed that 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Jai Hind' were coined by Muslims. He also asked if those associated with the "Sangh Parivar" -- an umbrella term used to refer to right-wing political and non-political outfits in the country, including the BJP -- will avoid raising the slogans if they discover their origins.

"In some programs, we hear some Sangh Parivar leaders asking people to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. Who coined the slogan Bharat Mata Ki Jai? I don't know if the Sangh Parivar knows this. His name was Azimullah Khan," Vijayan was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

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He said, "I don't know if they know that he (Azimullah Khan) is not a Sangh Parivar leader. He was the prime minister to the Maratha Peshwa Nana Saheb in the 19th century. We should know that he coined the term Bharat Mata ki Jai. I don't know if Sangh Parivar will decide not to chant the slogan since it was framed by a Muslim?"

Further attacking the 'Sangh Parivar', CM Vijayan said, "Therefore, I want to say that the Sangh Parivar who says Muslims should leave India, they should be sent to Pakistan, they should understand this history." He added, "Similarly, a former diplomat, Abid Hasan, coined the term 'Jai Hind'. So Jai Hind is also a contribution by a Muslim."

The remarks by CM Vijayan came at a rally organised on Monday to protest the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. Notably, a day after the recent notification of rules for the CAA, the Kerala CM reiterated his Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's position that it will not allow the implementation of the newly enforced provisions of the contentious legislation in the state.

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Hitting out at Vijayan for his remarks on 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Jai Hind', Kerala BJP leader PK Krishnadas asked if the chief minister and other leaders of Left parties would be willing to raise the slogans as they were coined by Muslims, Hindustan Times reported.

(With inputs from agencies)