During a Ram Katha event in Tiloi, BJP MLA Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh stirred controversy with a provocative statement, asserting that chanting “Radhe Radhe” is necessary to live in India, reports India Today.
In a video shared by IANS on December 2, Singh is seen addressing the gathering from a stage, declaring, “Hindustan mein rehna hai to Radhe Radhe kehna hai” (If you want to live in Hindustan, you must say ‘Radhe Radhe’).
The statement has drawn sharp criticism from the Samajwadi Party (SP), the primary opposition in Uttar Pradesh. A senior SP leader accused the BJP of fostering communal tensions and demanded action against Singh. “BJP wants to disturb communal peace and amity….the minister must be acted against…he should be sacked,” the leader said.
The remark has been labelled by critics as an attempt to impose cultural and religious conformity, sparking discussions about its implications for India’s plural fabric. Opposition parties and activists have also raised concerns over the divisive nature of such comments.
As the controversy unfolds, political analysts are questioning the impact of such rhetoric on communal harmony, while civil society groups are calling for accountability and the safeguarding of India’s pluralistic ethos.
