Scant response to ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogan from the participants in a Youth Conclave in Kerala

Enraged Meenakshi Lekhi asks a woman to leave the venue

Kozhikode (Kerala) – Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi was visibly upset during a Youth Conclave in Kerala on Saturday, after a section of the audience did not respond to the ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogan, despite her repeated requests. Lashing out at the audience, Lekhi questioned whether India was not their mother and even suggested to a woman who hesitated to participate in raising the slogan to consider leaving the venue.

After Concluding her speech at the conclave with a chant of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, Lekhi asked the audience to repeat after her. Not receiving the expected response from the audience, she asked, “Is Bharat only my mother or your mother as well ? Tell me…Tell me…Is there any doubt ? No doubt ?… Enthusiasm needs to be expressed”. After this, Meenakshi Lekhi again chanted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’; but even then, there was little response. Pointing at a woman in the audience, Lekhi said, “The lady in yellow dress can stand up. Don’t look on to the sides. This is how I am going to speak to you. I am going to ask you a straight question. Bharat is not your mother ?… Why this attitude ?” The minister then said that someone who does not feel proud of the country and who finds it embarrassing to speak about India, need not be part of the youth conclave.

Editorial Perspective

This incident in Kerala shows the mentality of the people there ! Efforts must be made on a war footing to change this mindset, otherwise Kerala would become another Kashmir !