Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis does a U-turn, says no problems with 'Jai Hind' or 'Jai Bharat'

In what could further escalate the tug-of-war over chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday that those opposing the slogan have "malafide interests" and “intentions”.

Mumbai: In what could further escalate the tug-of-war over chanting of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday that those opposing the slogan have "malafide interests" and “intentions”.

However, clarifying his statement that those unwilling to say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' have no right to stay in the country, Fadnavis said, “We absolutely have no problem if somebody says 'Jai Hind' or 'Jai Bharat' or 'Jai Hindustan'.”

He further said, “All we object about is when someone says, 'I won't say Bharat Mata ki Jai'. There is a limit to appeasement.”

Further adding fuel to the fire on the nationalism debate, Fadnavis said, “They (those refusing to chant (Bharat Mata ki Jai) are those divisive forces who want to create a rift in our country & wish to break the unity. Why should we tolerate it?”, as per ANI.

"There is still a dispute over saying 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and those opposing to say it, should not have any right to stay here. Those living here should say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” Fadnavis had said while addressing a public meet yesterday night.

Recently, Darul-Uloom Deoband, the leading Islamic seminary of the Indian subcontinent, had said that Muslims love “Bharat Mata” (Mother India) but they cannot worship their “maadre-watan (mother land)”.

In a fatwa issued to Muslims, the seminary had said, “Muslims should not chant 'Bharat Mata ki jai' because it is against Islam and 'tauheed' (the idea of worshipping one God), which forms the core of Islam.”