Bengaluru: As citizens of India, our hearts swell with pride when it comes to the issue of our nation. 

The slogan ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ is not just a slogan, but a magic bullet that buries all our differences and unifies us. 

However, there are some who find this slogan communal and militaristic as well. 

Former PM Manmohan Singh, during a book launch last month had made these observations. 

He had said, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogan is being misused to construct a militant and purely emotional idea of India that excludes millions of residents and citizens".

Today, the PM who addressed his party parliamentarians did not miss out on an opportunity to hit back at Manmohan Singh. 

He said, “It appears some people get offended by people raising the slogan ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’”. 

And the PM did not limit himself to Manmohan Singh. He took a jibe at former PM Jawaharlal Nehru as well. 

"Even at the time of the freedom movement, some people felt the same way about the Bharat Mata slogan," he added. 

It is interesting to note that the slogan has always been a bone of contention between the Congress and the BJP. 

While the BJP elevates the slogan as a call to put all Indians on the same pedestal, the Congress sees it as a divisive agenda. 

It is pertinent to note that Union home minister Amit Shah had once revealed how a Rajasthan Congress worker yearned to shout the slogan, but was held back by other Congress workers and prevailed upon to shout slogans in favour of Sonia Gandhi. 

The slogans simple means “Victory to Mother India.” 

As wantonly being portrayed by the Congress and its coterie, it has nothing to do with religions, caste, sex or creed. 

It only appeals to all Indians to recognise themselves as the children of this great nation and work for all, irrespective of the differences.