Nothing political in PM's greeting of 'Jai Shri Ram': BJP

New Delhi, Oct 12: BJP today asserted that nothing political should be read in Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting people on Dussehra with the name of Lord Ram, who is a venerable figure for Indians.

Its comments came after some opposition parties took a dig at Modi over his saying "Jai Shri Ram, Jai Jai Shri Ram" from a Ramlila stage in Lucknow yesterday as the greeting is loaded with political symbolism linked to Ram temple issue, once a main poll plank now relegated to the background by the saffron party.

BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said only those who do not believe in Indian culture will find wrong in it. "Lord Ram is a venerable figure for us.

It is natural for the Prime Minister to take his name from the stage of a Ramlila. Those who believe in Indian culture will have no objection to it," he told reporters. He accused parties like SP, BSP and Congress of raising irrelevant issues to divert attention from developmental agenda as they have nothing to say on the matter.

"There is a design in their raising irrelevant issues. It is because they have completely failed on developmental front," he said.

PTI