Ranchi, July 26: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister in Jharkhand sparked off a controversy on Friday after he forced a Congress MLA to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' outside the state assembly. A video of the incident shows BJP leader CP Joshi forcing Congress legislator Imran Ansari to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' after a heated argument broke out between the two MLAs in the presence of media persons.

“I want Irfan bhai to once chant aloud ‘Jai Shri Ram’,” Singh told reporters holding Congress MLA’s hand. The BJP MLA went on to tell Ansari that his ancestors were "Ram-wale" and not "Babur-wale." Ansari responded: "Aap dara nahi sakte mujhe (you cannot threaten me)." The Congress legislator then schooled Singh that the country needs employment opportunities, electricity and development, and not politics over religion. Varun Bahar, Who Sang 'Jo Na Bole Jai Shri Ram Usko Bhejo Kabrastan', Arrested in UP's Gonda District.

Unabated by Ansari's response, Singh said that "even your ancestors believed in Shri Ram". When confronted by a news anchor, the BJP MLA said he was "just joking" in his defence. Two days ago, a ruckus occurred inside Jharkhand assembly over sloganeering of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. BJP MLA Viranchi Narayanfirst raised the slogan of 'Jai Shri Ram'. Soon, CP Singh and Minister of Labour, Employment and Training, Raj Paliwar joined the chanting. Maharashtra: Muslim Youths Forced to Chant 'Jai Shri Ram' in Aurangabad.

BJP MLA forces Congress Muslim legislator to chant 'Jai Shri Ram':

This happened when legislators of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) sought to know the government’s stand on proposed amendments to the Indian Forests Act, 1927. The House was adjourned twice due to the uproar.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 26, 2019 03:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).