Song by Varun Bahar Inciting Mob Lynching On YouTube Angers Many, Lyrics Say 'Jo Na Bole Jai Shri Ram, Bhej Do Usko Kabristan'

Even as the incidents of mob lynching allegedly over refusing to say 'Jai Shri Ram' continue to be a reported, a song has surfaced on the Internet, asking people to kill those who refuse to chant Lord Rama's name. The lyrics of the song go - 'Jo na bole Jai Shri Ram, bhej do unko kabristan' (Those who refuse to say Jai Shri Ram, send them to crematorium). The song also goes on to incite people to "finish those who oppose 'Ram Rajya'". The song has been sung and posted on YouTube by a person called Varun Bahar. Jharkhand Lynching Case: Muslim Man Dies After Mob Thrash Him for 18 Hours on Allegations of Theft in Kharsawan, Was Forced to Chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

The inciting song comes at a time when incidents of mob violence are on the rise in the country. Last month, a young man Tabrez Ansari, who was apprehended by a mob in Kharsawan district on June 18 on suspicion of theft, was tied to a pole and thrashed with sticks by a mob. He had succumbed to injuries on June 22. He was seen in a video being forced to chant "Jai Shri Ram" and "Jai Hanuman". After Ansari's death too, several incidents of people being allegedly forced to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' have been reported from different parts of the country. Uttar Pradesh: Muslim Cleric Assaulted, Forced to Chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in Muzaffarnagar.

Here is the video of the Jai Shri Ram song

On July 14, twelve youths in western UP were booked for pulling the beard of a Muslim cleric and forcing him to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'. On July 22, two Muslim youths in Maharashtra alleged that they were forced to chant "Jai Shri Ram" and were threatened by a group of people when they refused.

Meanwhile, 49 celebrities have now written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising concerns over growing incidents of mob lynching and asking about measures to stop them altogether. Konkona Sensharma, Soumita Chatterjee, Shyam Benegal, Shuba Mudgal, Mani Ratnam, Anurag Kashyap, Aparna Sen, Kani Kusruti are some of the names who signed the letter. Mob Lynching in India Prompts Anurag Kashyap, Konkona Sen Sharma, Mani Ratnam and 46 Others Write Open Letter to PM Narendra Modi.

Amid such incidents, the song on YouTube has angered many, who have called for the video to be taken off. "Please delete this song. We are Indians and all are equal. Don't publish these type of song please," reads a comment on the video. Another comment read, "Worst song on Bhagwan Ram." However, the Hindi song still exists on YouTube and continues to get more views.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2019 03:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).