New Delhi:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's 'Shastra Puja' has become centre of a war of words between ruling Bharatiya Janta Party and opposition Congress. On Vijayadashmi, after taking formal handover of the first of 36 Rafale jets meant for the Indian Air Force, Rajnath Singh performed a 'shastra puja' - a traditional veneration of weapons on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami. Singh's actions prompted criticism from opposition leaders, with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge calling it "tamasha". NCP leader Sharad Pawar has joined the debate said he was left bewildered by the hanging of lemon and chili from the multi-million dollar advanced multirole fighter jet that is widely regarded as one of the deadliest in its class.
BJP and Home Minister Amit Shah have hit back at the comments pointing out that 'shastra puja' is a long-held tradition in the country.
Even as Congress slammed Rajnath Singh for performing puja on the first Rafale fighter jet received by India, a video showing former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru participating in puja at the launch of India's first ship 'Jal Usha' has gone viral.
The video, shared widely on social media, allegedly Nehru participating in the puja on March 14, 1948.
#गौरवशाली_70_वरà¥Âष आज ही के दिन 14 मारà¥Âच 1948 आज़ाद 🇮🇳 का पहला जलयान #Ship_Jalusa पवितà¥Âर वैदिक मंतà¥Âरों व पूजा अरà¥Âचना सहित पà¥Âरधानमंतà¥Âरी #पंडित_नेहरू दà¥Âवरा हिंद महासागर में उतारा गया था
— Syed Athar Dehlavi सैयद अतहर देहलवी سید اطÛÂر دÛÂلوی (@maulanadehlavi) March 14, 2018
à¤à¤¾à¤°à¤¤ नव निरà¥Âमाण के हर निरà¥Âमाता को मेरा सलाम@PMOIndia @OfficeOfRG @_SoniaGandhi @INCIndia pic.twitter.com/S0TioSaeg9
14th March, 1948- Nehru doing Puja and breaking Nariyal during launch of ship Jalusa. https://t.co/lIiB8M2IJL pic.twitter.com/Jh6VK2cqGm
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) October 9, 2019
News Nation can not verify the authencity of the video. However, it is being shared by many on social media as an example of how tradition has always been a part of such events.
