The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday asked his supporters not use the ‘Har Har Modi’ chant in his support. “Some enthusiastic supporters are using the slogan ‘Har Har Modi…’ I respect their enthusiasm but request not to use this slogan in the future (sic),” Modi tweeted.
“It has come to our notice that in a few television channels there are discussions on “Har Har Modi” as if it is a BJP nara/slogan. This is incorrect. The BJP slogan is ‘Abki Baar Modi Sarkaar’,” said a statement issued by BJP spokesperson Nirmala Seetharaman.
The issue turned controversial after some of the BJP supporters raised such slogans in Varanasi following nomination of Modi from the city as the lok Sabha candidate. Dwarka peeth Shankarachayra Swaroopanand Saraswati has also reportedly raised an objection to the slogan and registered his protest with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, asking him to stop such “vyakti puja” (worship of individuals).
The Shankaracharya, who is considered close to Congress is unhappy over the traditional chant “Har Har Mahadev” raised to hail lord Shiv being “modified” into “Har Har Modi” to give a philip to Modi’s poll campaign.
Earlier, Union Minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid sought the election commission to take cognisance of the slogan. “We respect democracy but god is above it... I request the EC to take cognisance of the slogan used by the BJP,” Khurshid told the media on Saturday.