Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray Rejects Election Commission’s Demand to Remove ‘Jai Bhavani’ from Anthem

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In a firm rebuttal to the Election Commission’s notice demanding the removal of the phrase ‘Jai Bhavani’ from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) anthem, party supremo Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday rejected the demand. He also questioned the lack of action by the election body against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for making religiously charged statements during poll campaigns.

Thackeray’s remarks came during a press conference, where he said the Election Commission sent the Shiv Sena (UBT) a notice to remove ‘Jai Bhavani’ from ‘Jai Bhavani and Jai Shivaji’, and “Hindu ha tujha dharma (Hindu is your religion)”.

Thackeray showed a video of Modi who urged people at a campaign rally in Karnataka to press the button on the EVMs while chanting ‘Jai Bajrang Bali’.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief also showed Shah’s video where the home minister asks the audience, “Don’t you all want to visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya and receive darshan? Yes or no? You do want to go… but it will cost money, right? However, I tell you, it won’t cost you anything. If you elect the BJP government on December 3, the BJP’s Madhya Pradesh government will provide free darshan of Ram Lalla to everyone.”

Citing the two examples, Thackeray questioned why the Election Commission had not taken action against Modi and Shah. He also said that if the Election Commission does not take a consistent stance on religious promotion in elections, his party would consider engaging in similar activities and challenging the commission to take action against them.

“We received a letter from the election commission yesterday. Our party symbol is now ‘Mashal’, we launched the ‘Mashal’ song for upcoming elections. When it was submitted to ECI, the Election Commission of India asked us to remove two words- ‘Hindu ha tujha dharma’ (Hindu is your religion) and ‘Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji’. Who are you to tell us to remove Jai Bhavani? … I want to tell ECI I will not remove it,” Thackeray said, adding that Shiv Sena (UBT) did not ask for votes based on ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’.

He maintained that if their Shiv Sena anthem is deemed to promote religious messages, then action should be taken against Modi and Shah first.

“We sent a memorandum to the Election Commission. Please answer us, or if you do not, we will assume that you have changed the rules. If we also conduct such propaganda, you cannot take action against us. Otherwise, if the rules have not changed, explain what action you have taken against them,” Thackeray stated.

Model Conduct of Code that has been in place since the Election Commission announced Lok Sabha poll dates in March required political parties to refrain from using religious figures and photos at campaign rallies.

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