Raipur mayor’s oath-taking sparks debate over religious slogans
Newly appointed mayor sparks debate over religious slogan
Raipur | Correspondent: The newly appointed BJP Mayor of the capital, Meenal Choubey, ended her oath by chanting 'Jai Shri Ram.'
Following her lead, many of the elected councilors echoed the same slogan, while some chanted 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and others 'Jai Shri Krishna.'
The scene unfolded during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected mayor and councilors at Raipur's Indoor Stadium.
Experts emphasize that the carefully measured words of the oath remind every person assuming office that their duty is to work within the framework of the Constitution.
They are bound to perform their responsibilities honestly, while upholding the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
What remains puzzling is why the mayor felt the need to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' after beginning the oath by invoking God.
This raises several questions: Does she consider 'God' and 'Jai Shri Ram' to be different? Or was the slogan meant to convey a distinct political message?
Whatever the intention, raising religious slogans before assuming a constitutional post is not in accordance with the Constitution.
India’s Constitution upholds the principle of secularism and expects individuals holding constitutional positions to refrain from public displays of their religious beliefs, maintaining the dignity of their office.
Religion is inherently a personal matter. However, over the past decade, public displays of religious affiliations have visibly increased in Indian politics, sparking debates on the intersection of faith and governance.
