Controversy over 'Bharat mata ki jai' meaningless: LK Advani

Amid a charged debate over patriotism and chanting of "Bharat Mata ki Jai", BJP patriarch L K Advani on Wednesday said the controversy over the slogan is "meaningless".

"I don't want to comment on it. This is a meaningless controversy ('yeh ek vyarth vivad hai')" Advani told reporters in Gandhinagar on sidelines of an event when asked for his comment on the issue. Advani's statement comes against the backdrop of AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi's refusal to chant "Bharat Mata ki Jai" saying he is not obliged to do so by Constitution. Prior to Owaisi's statement that stoked a debate, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said the youth should be taught patriotic slogans.

The issue escalated into a political slugfest with the Shiv Sena, BJP and other parties slamming the Hyderabad MP over his stand. Maharashtra Assembly suspended an AIMIM MLA after he refused to chant the slogan, while the Madhya Pradesh Assembly passed a censure motion condemning Owaisi.