Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Monday issued a strict directive after a version of ‘Vande Mataram’ sung by late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar was played instead of the official version of the national song at an event.
The event was organised in Thane city to mark the conclusion of the Marathi language course campaign for cab and auto-rickshaw drivers, where certificates were distributed to the successful participants hailing from non-Marathi background, according to PTI news agency.
Shinde, while speaking towards the end of the event, urged organisers to strictly ensure that the official version and rendition of the national song approved by Parliament is played at public programmes, PTI reported. He also emphasised the need to preserve the sanctity of ‘Vande Mataram’. Shinde also advised the organisers to remain vigilant. The gaffe at the event attended by Shinde comes at a time when the BJP and Congress are trading barbs amid a row over an Independence Day video featuring Sonia Gandhi and other party leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Furthermore, the deputy CM called out the error made during the event and said that the version played there was not in the approved style. Kharge said the BJP was unaware of the historical decisions taken by the Congress on the national song and the national anthem. “They don’t know that before they were born, the Congress had passed the resolution to decide about the national song and the national anthem,” he said, according to PTI. The Congress president said he had followed the version of ‘Vande Mataram’ that had been sung for decades.
