Citizenship Amendment Act: Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala, has sparked controversy by asserting that Muslims originally came up with the patriotic phrases “Jai Hind” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” Speaking on Monday at a rally in the predominantly Muslim Malappuram region, Vijayan stressed the importance of Muslims in India’s history and freedom struggle.
Historical References
In order to bolster his argument, Vijayan used historical individuals. He identified Azimullah Khan as the author of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” “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,” CM Said.
“I don’t know if they know that he 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. 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 said.
Promoting Multiracial Nationalism
Similarly, Vijayan said that the ‘Jai Hind’ slogan originated with the veteran diplomat Abid Hasan. By recognising Hasan’s contribution, the CM emphasised how India’s nationalist zeal is multiracial and crosses religious lines.
The Chief Minister went on to underscore the crucial part that Muslims played in India’s fight for independence. By highlighting their efforts, CM Vijayan sought to promote diversity and acknowledge various stories in the national conversation. Vijayan added that the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan’s son Dara Shikoh translated more than 50 Upanishads from their original Sanskrit text into Persian, which aided in the spread of Indian texts around the world.
Political Response in Kerala
Moving on to modern politics, Vijayan accused Muslims of being the target of discrimination in the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). He said that Muslims were being marginalised by the BJP administration led by the RSS through the CAA, which infuriated the politically conscious people of Kerala.
Condemnation of Central Government
In the midst of his critique, Chief Minister Vijayan attacked the Congress opposition for allegedly not being sincere in their opposition to the CAA. He gave examples of times when Congress leaders did not show up for protests, drawing a distinction between their lack of participation and that of Left leaders.
CM Vijayan was unafraid to criticise the central government for allegedly tacitly endorsing the use of force against demonstrators against the CAA. He challenged the fundamentals of the political ethos of the Sangh Parivar by drawing comparisons between the philosophy of the RSS and fascist beliefs.
