As the controversy broke out over Udyanraje Bhosale chanting slogan in Rajya Sabha, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu issued a clarification saying that he only reminded the newly elected members to not chant slogans while taking the oath.
Saying that he meant no disrespect, Naidu highlighted that he has always been an admirer of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and worshipper of Goddess Bhavani. The Rajya Sabha chairman said that he was reminding elected members that no slogans are given at the time of taking oath.
“Always been a strong and vocal admirer of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and worshipper of Goddess Bhawani. Reminded Members that as per conventional practice at the time of taking oath, no slogans are given. No disrespect at all (sic),” the Vice President tweeted.
His response came immediately after the Congress, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) labelled Naidu’s remarks as “disrespectful”. In a video during the oath ceremony in Rajya Sabha, Naidu had told Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Udyanraje Bhosale that no slogans are allowed in the house.
Bhosale, the 17th descendent of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, chanted slogans - "Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji" - to honour Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the end of his oath. However, Naidu objected to the same and said that only oath will go on record while adding that new members should keep in mind that no slogans are allowed in the house.
Reacting to this, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay cornered the BJP over its silence on the issue saying that slogans - ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’ - were as important as ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Jai Hind’.
However, Bhosale downplayed the same and said that he would have resigned immediately if Shivaji Maharaj would have been insulted while adding that Naidu didn’t insult Chatrapati Shivaji in any way.
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