What is wrong in chanting Jai Shri Ram? DGP Jacob Thomas wonders

Thiruvananthapuram: As speculations mounted that the suspended Kerala police officer Jacob Thomas is in talks with BJP for a political foray, the top bureaucrat on Friday said there was nothing wrong in associating with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and termed chanting Jai Shri Ram as a "normal thing."

DGP Thomas, who was at loggerheads with the previous Congress-led United Democratic Front government and the present CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), said the RSS was not a political party but the largest NGO engaged in "nation-building."

Earlier, Onmanorama had reported that senior RSS leaders in Kerala were lobbying with the BJP top brass in Delhi for a favourable decision on the entry of the controversial IPS officer into politics.

It was, then, said that the BJP leaders in Kerala were not aware of Thomas' bid to join their party which was eager to woo the minority community in Kerala.

The Central Administrative Tribunal had on July 29 ordered the reinstatement of Thomas, who was suspended in December 2017 over his remarks against the LDF government on handling of the Ockhi cyclone situation.

'Jai Shri Ram' chant is normal

Amid frequent reports that right-wing elements are forcing minorities to chant 'Jai Shri Ram', the Kerala cop supported the increasing use of the religious slogan.

"Yesterday, I participated in a Ramayana fest, a cultural event at Thrissur. There I was talking about the values which Lord Ram symbolises. Ram was a person who lived long ago. But how's Ram being represented now? So what's he representing? He is the model man. He is the Mathruka Purush.

"Untoward things are happening in Kerala for some time. Ram should come and intervene when wrong things are happening," Thomas said at a meet-the-press programme, organised by the Thiruvananthapuram press club here, the other day. 

He said chanting Jai Shri Ram was a normal thing everywhere. "He (Ram) is the Sankalp Purush. He was a man with morals and values.

"Why can't we chant Jai Shri Ram? If go to some function of the Army we say Jai Hind or Jai Shri Ram. That's a normal thing," he said.

On Adoor's letter

When it was pointed out that eminent personalities, including filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, had opposed the use of Jai Shri Ram as a "war cry," Thomas said "Adoor has the right for (expressing) his opinion, so do I."

Adoor had said those voicing concern was neither against the government nor against those chanting 'Jai Shri Ram', but against incidents of lynching using the "chant as a war cry".

Views on BJP and RSS

When asked about joining the BJP as he was frequently seen in programmes organised by the RSS, Thomas said he did not have anything against the saffron party.

"BJP is a political party, whereas RSS is not. It is an NGO. BJP gave two PMs who were re-elected by the people. So I don't have an opinion that the political party which has given two prime ministers for the country is not good. If anyone has got such an opinion that the party is not good, its because of their ideology.

"Why did the people of the country give mandate to the party a chance to rule again? I don't have anything against that party. Those who oppose that party might have," he told reporters.

The former Vigilance head also asked the media what was wrong in joining the RSS.

"The people with whom I have interacted with in RSS are leading a simple life, not working against our country. They spread the culture of India.I can relate to it," he said.

He also reasoned he is an Indian and culture of the country is even embodied in the National Anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'.

"RSS upholds the same. It upholds the culture of India. If any other organisation in the state also come up with such simplicity and upholds the culture of our country, I will happily associate with them," he said.

When it was pointed out that the minorities were not feeling safe with incidents over the Jai Shri Ram chant in northern parts of the country, he responded he also belongs to a minority community.

In this context he noted that only bad news from North India comes down to South and vice-versa.

"Bad news travels fast but for good news it is the other way round. So the bad news of North India travels fast and far. Here state government constructed houses for fishermen after the Ockhi cyclone but that news won't reach North India. Likewise the good news from North India won't reach here," Thomas said.

He clarified he has not joined any political party so far despite receiving invitation for it.

Thomas aslo recalled that when he joined the civil service, politics didn't offer much perks.

"When I joined the civil service, MLAs or MPs were not getting much salary or perks. But that is not the situation today. So politics is good option," he said, hinting that politics too is a good career option. 

On cases against him

Thomas is also facing a case for penning his autobiography 'Sravukalkkoppam Neenthumbol' (Swimming With Sharks) without seeking permission from the higher-ups.

The complaint was filed by the general administration department on the direction of Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose.

The police's Crime Branch wing is probing the case.

In the 240-page book, the 1985-batch IPS officer had attacked many leaders, including former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Thomas denied the alleged rift with the current Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over his suspension.

"I don't think the Chief Minister has got any role in my suspension. He is the last person to sign the order," Thomas said.

His recent bid to contest the Lok Sabha election from Chalakudy fizzled out as his application to retire voluntarily from service is yet to be processed. It is said the state government is to yet to hand over the file regarding this to the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The state government is likely seeking more details about cases against him before despatching his file to the centre.

Thomas is otherwise due for retirement only in 2021.

Another Kerala top cop, ex-DGP T P Senkumar, too had hobnobbed with the BJP and RSS and was said to be a contender for a Lok Sabha seat. He too had strained ties with the LDF government before retiring from service after a legal battle.

(With PTI inputs)