14th March, 2016
Chennai, TN
A note:
Assaduddin Owaisi, the
leader of the AIMIM party from the Andhra region said today that he will not
say any slogans to hail mother India, at any cost. This was in reply to the
call made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to urge the younger generation to chant
such slogans to arouse patriotism.
It is natural for the RSS
chief to chant slogans to hail mother India and this is a fact that many would
acknowledge. But what we must also acknowledge is that Mr. Owaisi is free not
to chant such slogans. One can be a patriot of India without chanting any
slogans. Being a good citizen is epitome, for actions matter and not the words
that we utter and soon forget. Reaffirming patriotism does not necessarily mean
saying Bharat Mata ki Jai or similar slogans, although one may choose to say so
if one prefers that. Mr. Owaisi is right when he says that the Constitution of
India, which governs us all and treats all the Indians alike, does not require
anyone to make such slogans.
However, it would be great
if Mr. Owaisi could understand that it is natural for the RSS to chant such
slogans and acknowledge that they are as free to chant what they want as he is
free to not to (provided they are within the rule of law). The RSS is also
working within the Constitution and the RSS chief’s comments were not an imposition
or a diktat but a mere suggestion.
If Mr. Owaisi could,
instead of rebutting to what Mr. Bhagawat said, propose a better way to infuse
patriotism among the youth, without chanting slogans that have Hindu
connotations such as Bharat Mata, Hind or Mataram, then I am sure that it would
do a world of good to the Indians.
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