After 'Har Har Modi' row, distortion of Sikh prayer for Arun Jaitley campaign

New Delhi: After putting an end to the "Har Har Modi" slogan that upset many religious leaders, the BJP has landed in fresh trouble over the distortion of a Sikh chant by a leader of its Punjab ally, the Akali Dal. The Congress has announced protests against what it describes as "blasphemy."

While campaigning for Arun Jaitley on Thursday, Bikramjit Majithia of the Akali Dal modified Guru Gobind Singh's hymn "Deh Shiva" to include the senior BJP leader's name.

The tenth Sikh Guru had written - "Deh Shiva var mohe, Shubh karman se kabhoon na taroon, na taroon arson jab jahi laroon, Nishchay kar Apni jeet karoon (O Lord, give me this boon, may I never hesitate in doing good deeds, may I never be afraid to fight the enemy, with this resolve, victory will be mine)."

Mr Majithia, who is the state revenue minister, reportedly asked a gathering to raise their hands and repeat the prayer with him, substituting a word to make it "victory will be Arun Jaitley's."

Mr Jaitley, 61, is fighting his first election ever, from the Amritsar constituency. Mr Majithia is the Akali Dal leader in charge of his campaign.

The Congress has announced a statewide protest against Mr Majithia today. The party's spokesperson in Punjab, Sukhpal Khaira, has urged the Akal Takht, or the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, to summon the Akali leader.

Mr Majithia has reportedly said it was an "unintentional slip of tongue".

Last month, Narendra Modi stepped in to appeal to his supporters not to use the "Har Har Modi" slogan, borrowed from the Hindu chant "Har Har Mahadev" in the name of Lord Shiva. The BJP's slogan had provoked strong protests from rival parties and Hindu religious leaders.