SP criticises BJP over ‘Ya Modi Sarvbhuteshu’ poster

BJP workers hold the poster with ‘modified’ Durga Saptshati shloka in Varanasi. (IE Photo: Ravi Prakash)

Samajwadi Party today criticised BJP over a poster released by Narendra Modi’s supporters in this temple town using a “modified” version of a ‘shloka’eulogising Goddess Durga.

Senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav told reporters here today that the poster “has hurt the sentiments of Hindus deeply” and added that his party “will expose the true face of BJP which swears by Hindutva and has no respect for the sanctity of traditions”.

The poster to greet the people ahead of Navratri, a festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, carries a picture of Modi showing a victory sign and a “modified” version of a ‘shloka’ of Durga Saptshati, a religious text describing Durga’s victory demon Mahishasura.

It says, “Ya Modi Sarvbhuteshu, Rashtrarupen Sansithah, namastasye, namastasye Namo Namah (Modi who resides in every human being in the form of rashtra (nation), I salute him again and again.”

Meanwhile, BJP sources said office-bearers of the party’s literature publication wing, which released the poster, had been summoned by party president of Kashi area Laxman Acharya.

Acharya had asked workers not to circulate the poster, the sources said. State party president Laxmikant Bajpayee has also issued a warning that “serious action” would be taken if this poster was put up on walls and vehicles, the sources added.