struggle: Haryana ministerAmbala (Har), Nov 19 (PTI) Haryana Minister Anil Vijtoday stirred a controversy saying that the popular Hindi song'Sabarmati ke Sant' portrayed an inaccurate picture of India'sfreedom struggle and claimed that its lyrics were an "insult"to many martyrs whose contribution it ignored.
Referring to the lyrics, "De di humein azadi bina khadagbina dhaal, Sabarmati ke sant tune kar diya kamal (O saint ofSabarmati, you have given us freedom without using scimitarsor shields)," Vij said the song did not mention those whowaged an armed struggle against foreign rule.
Vij made his comments at a function held at the SubhashPark in Ambala Cantt yesterday. The park is named after NetajiSubhas Chandra Bose. The reference to the song came up whenthe role of various freedom fighters in the country'sindependence movement was being mentioned.
The minister said the lyrics of the song did not make anymention of the large number of freedom fighters who launchedan armed struggle to free the country.
"It does not portray a true picture," the Haryana healthminister said.
Vij said that Bose and his Azad Hind Fauj, Bhagat Singh,Chandra Shekhar Azad, Rajguru, Sukhdev and others were amongthose who fought to throw out the Britishers.
There were many others who sacrificed their lives for thecountry, he said.
Vij alleged that the film song misguided people and wasan "insult" to the large number of martyrs who laid down theirlives fighting British rulers.
"Rajguru, Sukhdev, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Netaji Bose andhis Azad Hind Fauj fought against the British empire. At thattime it used to be said that sun never sets on the Britishempire, but they fought against them without caring abouttheir lives.
"Besides, a large number of other freedom fighters madesacrifices for the sake of the country's freedom. But when wesay 'De di hamein azadi bina khadag bina dhal' then it is aninsult to those martyrs," Vij said.
Slamming Vij for his remarks, the opposition Congressalleged that the minister was a "loose cannon" who often made"irresponsible" statements.
"He is a loose cannon. He is in the habit of makingirresponsible statements. This is not the first time that hehas tried to insult Mahatma Gandhi ji as earlier this year toohe had done the same thing. Rather than making such comments,he should focus on his ministry and try to make improvementsthere," Congress MP from Rohtak, Deepinder Singh Hooda, said.
The song from 1954 film 'Jagriti' is dedicated to Gandhi,who espoused non-violence.
The senior BJP leader, a five-time MLA from Ambala Cantt,is no stranger to controversies.
In January this year, Vij had courted controversy withremarks that Gandhi's image did not help Khadi and had causeddevaluation of the currency.
Vij had said that it was good that Gandhi's image wasreplaced with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in thecalendar and diary of the Khadi and Village IndustriesCommission (KVIC) as Modi was a "better brand". He went on toadd that Gandhi's image would be removed gradually from thecurrency notes too.
However, the minister later withdrew these remarks aftermassive outrage and even the BJP condemning them.
"The statement given by me in connection with MahatmaGandhi was given in my personal capacity. To avoid hurtinganyone's sentiments, I am withdrawing it," the minister hadtweeted after the controversy erupted. PTI Cor SUN PTIADS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.