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From Jai Shri Ram To Allahu Akbar: Newly Elected Netas Took Oath Of Duty In LS

The preamble to the Constitution declares that India is a secular country, meaning it is not connected with religion. However, when newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) took their oath in the Lok Sabha on Monday and Tuesday, religious slogans were prominently shouted, turning what used to be a simple formality into something different.

 

Newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) of the 18th Lok Sabha raised various slogans during their swearing-in at the new Parliament building. There were cheers like ‘Jai Bhim’, ‘Jai Palestine’, ‘Jai Kali’, ‘Jai Hindu Rashtra’, ‘Jai Shree Ram’, and ‘Narendra Modi Zindabad’. This caused several disruptions as MPs from different parties shouted their own slogans to counter each other.

 

In addition to slogans, many Opposition MPs brought copies of the Constitution to the ceremony, emphasizing their campaign to protect it. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, held up a red pocket edition of the Constitution and said ‘Jai Hind, Jai Samvidhan’ while taking his oath.

 

Other MPs took their oath in their native languages. Pappu Yadav, an Independent MP from Bihar’s Purnia, started with ‘Salaam Bihar, Johar Bihar’ and took his oath entirely in Maithili.

 

He ended with slogans calling for a retake of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) and special status for Bihar. When members from the Treasury Bench objected, he responded, saying he is a six-time MP and doesn’t need lessons: “You were winning out of ‘pity,’ and I won four times independently. So, don’t tell me.”

 

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi took his oath in Urdu and showed support for Palestine. When he raised the slogan ‘Jai Bheem, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine,’ the Treasury Bench objected.

 

Defending his stance outside Parliament, Owaisi later said, “Other members are also saying different things. How is it wrong? Read what Mahatma Gandhi had said about Palestine.”

 

According to the details, a complaint against Owaisi was filed by advocate Hari Shankar Jain, on the Owais’s slogans in the House.

A second complaint against Owaisi was also filed by advocate Vineet Jindal, under Article 103 of the Constitution of India.

 

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju commented, “We do not have any enmity with Palestine or any other country. While taking the oath, is it proper for any member to raise slogans praising another country? We will have to check the rules if it is appropriateā€¦.”

 

BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, Chhatra Pal Singh Gangwar, faced criticism when he ended his oath with ‘Jai Hindu Rashtra, Jai Bharat.’

 

Opposition MPs reacted, calling Gangwar’s statement “Samvidhaan Virodhi,” which means against the Constitution. Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav were in the Lok Sabha during Gangwar’s statement.

 

However, when Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee took his oath and raised the slogan ‘Mamata Banerjee Zindabad,’ MPs from the ruling party responded with ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogans, to which Banerjee replied with ‘Jai Jagannath, Jai Kali.’

 

Pro-tem Speaker Bhatruhari Mahtab announced that the Parliament records would only include the oath and not the slogans. The rules allow MPs to take their oath or affirmation in English or any of the twenty-two languages specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

 

These events show the rising tensions in Parliament, as religious and political slogans overshadowed the traditional oath-taking ceremony. This has sparked debate about whether such slogans are appropriate in a secular institution. Moving forward, it’s important for Parliament to focus on unity, uphold the Constitution’s values, and address the country’s key issues rather than being divided by slogans and politics.

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