
On October 14, 2024, actress and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt strongly criticized a group of individuals chanting “Jai Shree Ram” inside a Mumbai Metro train. The incident, which was caught on video and went viral on social media, sparked a heated debate about religious expressions in public spaces. Bhatt took to her social media accounts to voice her disapproval, questioning how such behavior was allowed in a shared public environment like the Metro.
Bhatt emphasized that public spaces should remain neutral, free from religious or political expressions that could make others uncomfortable. She pointed out the dangers of allowing such actions, which could further fuel communal tensions in a diverse city like Mumbai. Her remarks have garnered support from some sections of the public, while others argued that chanting religious slogans is a form of free expression.
This controversy highlights the increasing tension around religious and political identity in India’s public spaces. The incident has drawn attention to the need for maintaining secularism in public transport systems, especially in cosmopolitan cities like Mumbai