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Controversy over #Ramcharitmanas quite possible, says PM Narendra Modi

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 13 February 2017, 4:03 IST

The much-publicised release of the the digital version of Saint Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas is finally here. Anticipating controversy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that people might start labelling this as a 'communal' move.

The digital version of the 16th century epic, which is Tulsidas's take on the Ramayana, was released by the PM on 1 September.

The Indian Express quotes him saying, "Aaj agar koi Om bol de toh hafte bhar vivad chalta hai ki Om kaise bola ja sakta hai...desh sampradayik hai" (These days if someone utters Om, then a week long debate ensues about how communalism is taking over the country).

He went on to say, "Ramcharitmanas ko kisi ne question to nahi kia, par ho sakta hai aaj ke baad kisi ka dhyaan jaaye aur toofan khada kar de, toh main nahi janta hoon." (Till now, no one has raised any questions on Ramcharitmanas. But it is possible that someone will not take note of it and stir up a storm. I can't say anything about it).

When Modi gifted a Bhagvad Gita to the Japanese Emperor in 2014, during his five-day visit, he predicted the gesture would not go down well with "secular" people in India. At that point he said, "All my secular friends will say 'don't know what Modi thinks of himself.' I don't know why such topics are debated."

Describing the epic as the "essence of India", he said, "Indians have travelled to various parts of the world but kept alive their link with India through Ramcharitmanas."

He also congratulated the All India Radio Team for putting together this digital version. AIR has been broadcasting verses from the epic for 22 years now.

First published: 1 September 2015, 10:29 IST