New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath has asked party workers to recite Hanuman Chalisa before Holika Dahan on Tuesday adding that Lord Hanuman was “disrespected” at a programme organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in MP’s Ratlam district, reported news agency PTI.
A row had erupted after women bodybuilders posed in front of the image of Lord Hanuman at the venue during the 13th Mister Junior Bodybuilding Competition held in Ratlam on March 4 and 5, following which local Congress leaders sprinkled 'ganga jal' as part of the "purification" of the venue on Monday. They had also recited 'Hanuman Chalisa'.
The Congress leader said it has been a tradition of the Sanatan Dharma to burn all the evils to ashes during Holika Dahan on the day of Holi.
"We recently saw how Lord Bajrangbali was disrespected in the BJP's programme in Ratlam. My heart is pained by this insult to Hindu Dharma. I urge you to burn effigies of evil in your city and village today and recite Sundar-kand (a part of Ramayana) and 'Hanuman Chalisa' to awaken goodness. Take part in Holika Dahan as per tradition in the night," Nath tweeted.
As per the invitation card for the bodybuilding event the organising committee includes the city's BJP mayor Prahlad Patel, while the patron is legislator Chaitanya Kashyap.
A video of the event, which surfaced on social media, showed women bodybuilders posing, leading to former mayor and Congress leader Paras Saklecha accusing Patel and Kashyap of showcasing "indecency".