EC's Notice To Shiv Sena (UBT) To Remove Words 'Jai Bhavani', 'Hindu' From Party's Anthem, Uddhav Says 'Won't Abide'

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray expressed his view that demanding the removal of "Jai Bhavani" from the anthem amounted to disrespect towards Maharashtra.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray stated on Sunday that he has been served notice by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to eliminate the words "Jai Bhavani" and "Hindu" from his party's new anthem, yet he refuses to comply.

During a press briefing, Thackeray expressed his view that demanding the removal of "Jai Bhavani" from the anthem amounted to disrespect towards Maharashtra.

Thackeray elaborated that his party framed an anthem to promote its new electoral symbol, the "mashal" (flaming torch), and the ECI requested the exclusion of the words "Hindu" and "Jai Bhavani" from it.

"Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded Hindavi Swaraj with the blessings of goddess Tulja Bhavani. We are not asking for votes in the name of the goddess or Hindu religion. This is an insult and will not be tolerated," Thackeray said.

Thackeray To Continue Using 'Jai Bhavani' And 'Jai Shivaji' In Public Meetings

The Sena UBT chief affirmed that he will continue using the words "Jai Bhavani" and "Jai Shivaji" in his public gatherings. "If the poll body takes action against us, they will have to tell us what they did when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who while campaigning for the Karnataka assembly elections, had asked people to say Jai Bajrang Bali and press the button on EVMs. Amit Shah had told people to vote for the BJP to get Ram Lalla darshan for free in Ayodhya," he also said.

Thackeray disclosed that the Shiv Sena (UBT) inquired of the ECI whether there had been alterations to the laws and whether it was now permissible to seek votes based on religion.

"The poll body has not responded to our letter and the reminder we sent. In the reminder, we had said if the laws have been changed, we will also say 'Har Har Mahadev' in our election rallies." Thackeray mentioned that his father, Balasaheb Thackeray, was prohibited from voting and contesting elections for six years because he advocated for Hindutva during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure as prime minister.

Additionally, the party questioned the ECI regarding whether speeches made by PM Modi and Amit Shah during the recent assembly elections, invoking religion, constituted "corrupt practice" under the Representation of People Act, he claimed.