In a shocking incident, a Jharkhand minister has been seen to be forcing a Muslim MLA from the Congress to chant Jai Shri Ram. The video of Jharkhand’s Urban Development Minister CP Singh trying to intimidate a fellow lawmaker from the minority community has gone viral on social media platforms.
Urban Development Minister CP Singh is heard saying, “I am saying that Irfan Bhai should chant loudly Jai Shri Ram.” CP Singh is then seen pulling Irfan Ansari’s hand to join him in chanting Jai Shri Ram slogans. Ansari then says that the BJP minister cannot intimidate him to chant the slogan, which has now become synonymous to intimidating and lynching minorities in India.
Far from being embarrassed, the urban development minister reminds the Congress legislator that his ancestors too were followers of Ram and not Babar, the Mughal ruler. He goes on to say disparagingly while addressing the Congress MLA, “I am trying to intimidate you. Your ancestors too chanted the slogans of Jai Shri Ram.”
Ansari reminds Singh not to defame the name of the popular Hindu god Ram. He says, “People want jobs, clean drains, and roads. Have you ever bothered to visit Ayodhya to see in what condition Ram is?”
Singh repeats his line to remind that Ansari’s ancestors were the followers of Ram and not Babur or ‘Taimur, Ghouri or Ghazni.’
Jharkhand has become notorious for lynchings with supporters of the BJP killing innocent Muslims while forcing them to chant Jai Shri Ram. The gruesome murder of Tabrez Ansari had prompted global condemnation for the Indian government.
More recently, as many as 49 prominent citizens including filmmaker Aparna Sen wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take urgent steps to stop the rampant killings of innocent people in the name of Ram.