‘Listening to Hanuman Chalisa a crime’: PM Modi brings up Karnataka assault to shred Congress

PM Modi slams Congress for the alleged recent assault on a shopkeeper listening to a recital of the Hanuman Chalisa in Karnataka.

Published on: Apr 24, 2024, 11:48:52 IST

ANIPosted by Yamini C S

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Invoking the alleged recent assault on a shopkeeper listening to a recital of the Hanuman Chalisa in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said chanting to the glory of the Hindu deity was a 'crime' in the Congress-ruled state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur on Tuesday. (ANI Photo) (BJP )

READ | Amit Shah holds massive roadshow in Bengaluru

Addressing a massive rally at the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha constituency in BJP-ruled Rajasthan, PM Modi, while extending his wishes to citizens on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, came out all guns blazing at the Congress, saying, "Under the Congress rule (in Karnataka), even listening to Hanuman Chalisa is a crime. The people of Rajasthan have been at the receiving end of this mindset. For the first time, since the Congress rule in Rajasthan, a Shobha Yatra (procession) was taken out in Rajasthan this year on Ram Navami. In a state where people greet each other by saying 'Ram, Ram', the Congress banned processions and celebrations on Ram Navami."

"I feel privileged to have received all your love, blessings and support. I am delighted to see all the excited and enthusiastic faces around me. On the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, I extend my wishes to all the people out here and across the country," PM Modi added.

READ | Drought, water challenges loom over Mandya’s politics

Bringing up the Karnataka incident, he added, "However, while extending my wishes to you on the occasion of Ram Navami, I am reminded of an incident from a few days ago. A shopkeeper in Congress-ruled Karnataka was brutally assaulted only because he was sitting at his shop, listening to a recital of Hanuman Chalisa."

The incident in question went down in March, this year, when a group of youths fell into an altercation with a shopkeeper while the latter was allegedly playing 'Hanuman Chalisa' on an audio system during 'Azaan' (the Muslim call to prayer).

Claiming that the Congress enforced a halt on Ram Navami celebrations in Rajasthan during its rule, PM Modi added, "Practising one's faith without fear is becoming increasingly difficult under Congress rule. The people of Rajasthan know all about it as they have been at the receiving end of it. Just a few days ago, the country celebrated Ram Navami with much fervour and enthusiasm. For the first time since the Congress' defeat, people here took out a procession on Ram Navami and the celebrations went off peacefully. Under their rule, there was an undeclared ban on Ran Navami celebrations in Rajasthan and stone-pelters enjoyed the state's patronage and protection."

READ | ‘JD(S)-BJP alliance not just on ideological basis’: Ex-Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy

Coming out in praise of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, PM Modi said mafia and criminals, who once overran the state, were now on the run under the present dispensation.

"You only got off the clutches of the Congress a few months ago. The wounds inflicted by the Congress while in power in the state are something you can never forget. They put Rajasthan top of the charts when it came to atrocities against women. You all know why the industries here in Tonk shut down because of the free run of some criminals. However, since Bhajan Lal Sharma and his team got to work, the mafia and criminals have been on the run. Even the paper-leak mafia seems to have cowered in the face of Bhajan Lal's crackdown," PM Modi said.

Phase 1 of polling for 12 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan was conducted on April 19, while the remaining 13 will go to polls in the second phase on April 26.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.