SLUMDOG: India's Congress party buys rights to "Jai ho"

India's Congress party has paid $200,000 for the rights to "Jai Ho," according to the BBC. The song, by AR Rehman, received one of the eight Oscars that "Slumdog Millionaire" took home. Congress plans to use the song during general elections in April and May:

"The campaign is ready for launch. It has been sent to the party for approval. It should be out on television and radio in a few hours subject to its approval," Harindra Singh, vice-chairman and managing director of advertising firm Percept, told the BBC on Thursday.

Percept negotiated the song's rights with T-Series, which holds the song's copyright.

"The tune of the song and the Jai Ho phrase have been used in the campaign. The lyrics have been written by a combination of people, they will be projecting what the Congress wishes to communicate," Mr Singh said.

Congress party officials say the achievements of the government deserve to be saluted and the song best explains that.

More from IANS:

[Congress honcho Digvijay] Singh said the Congress, right from the pre-independence period, made efforts to empower the common man as the party believed the country would be strengthened as they were empowered, he said.

Reverse spin from BJP leader Prem Kumar Dhumal:

"Why is Congress spending so much money to buy rights of the Jai Ho song....as the party has copyright over vast spread of slums across the country that formed background of the A.R. Rahman composed song," he said. [PTI]