JAI SRI RAM!

LAWMAKERS USUALLY consider sloganeering as the best form of offence against their rivals in the legislatures. The effectiveness of “saffron” slogans was perhaps put to test for the first time, at least in the Chhattisgarh Assembly on March 25, when the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party members tried to counter an aggressive Opposition Congress. The outcome of this left the treasury bench members surprised.

It so happened that Congress legislator Amit Jogi had triggered a heated debate in the House when he questioned the Raman Singh government’s decision to grant permission to its employees to participate in the activities of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.While the Opposition bench termed the sanction as an attempt by the state BJP government to saffronise the administration, the ruling party members were seen animatedly justifying the decision arguing that the RSS is an apolitical body. War of words between the treasury and Opposition members ensued when the Congress demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision.

The atmosphere in the House was suddenly surcharged when the BJP MLAs raised slogans “Jai Sri Ram” apparently to counter the unrelenting Congress members. As protests by Congress grew, the treasury bench members switched on to the longer version of the slogan — Jai Jai Sri Ram — apparently to shout down the Opposition. The Congress members’ voices seemed lost in the din and bustle. They later staged a walkout. “The slogan had a wonderful effect on the Opposition (forcing them to walk out)”, a BJP legislator was overheard saying.