Nobody has patent on 'Har Har': Sushil Modi

PATNA: Notwithstanding BJP mascot Narendra Modi's instruction to party members to desist from using the slogan 'Har Har Modi', Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday defended the use of the slogan and also proudly claimed it was coined by a Bihari.

"No one can claim to have a copyright on 'Har Har'. There are many Shankaracharyas. If one Shankaracharya has taken exception to its use by BJP, others may support it," Sushil Modi said, adding that the slogan was coined by a Bihar BJP member, Kumud Bihari Singh, with the party's cultural cell.

On being contacted, Kumud Bihari said, "Slogan writing is my hobby. The 'Har Har Modi' slogan energizes people and this is what I wanted," he said, adding that he had penned it for use in before Modi's Patna rally on October 27 last year. Kumud Bihari said he had also coined BJP's slogan in the 1990s, 'Bharat Mata ke teen dharohar - Atal, Advani, Murli Manohar'. It was widely used by the party. 'Har Har Modi' still adorns all BJP's campaign vehicles in Bihar, the party's orders not to, notwithstanding.

Another BJP leader said, "The 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan has lost its significance now that the Advani era is coming to an end in the BJP. 'Har Har Modi' is more relevant now in the party."