The Opposition saw a major conflict of opinion over ‘ Vande Mataram ‘, as the Congress raised objections to the rendition of the full version of the national song at an event in Srinagar on Tuesday. The party expressed disapproval after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah stood for the complete version at the inaugural event of the International Film Festival.
He urged its allies to honour the judgement of the country’s freedom fighters, who decided to adopt only the first two paras of the song. Congress leader K C Venugopal on Tuesday shared a video of the event and wrote, “The full version of Vande Mataram sits uneasily with the syncretic and pluralist ethos that our freedom fighters envisioned and nurtured for India.
The Abdullahs stood through all six stanzas of the song, highlighting differences within the INDIA bloc over the issue. Their true strength lies in their ability to bind together a nation as diverse as ours. There has been an ongoing political row over the rendition of Vande Mataram. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has criticised the Congress, accusing it of pursuing appeasement politics.
The Congress has maintained that it will sing only the first two stanzas of the national song at its official party programmes, citing the Congress Working Committee’s 1937 resolution. It is therefore a matter of concern that our alliance partners chose to sing the full version of the song.
Responding to its ally’s criticism, the National Conference said the Jammu and Kashmir government was only fulfilling its official duty as standing for the National song has now become a statutory obligation. “After legislative enactment by Parliament, singing Vande Mataram and standing for the song has become a statutory obligation (mandatory legal duty) regardless of ideological position of any party, group or alliance,” said National Conference spokersperson Tanvir Sadiq. Sadiq said the Jammu and Kashmir Government has to fulfil its official obligation “like the Congress ruled states” who sang the complete six stanzas of Vande Mataram at state events regardless of Congress’s ideological position. Expressing displeasure Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tarriq Karra said, “National symbols, songs and traditions occupy a special place in the heart of every Indian. Earlier reporting noted: Abdullahs Stand For Full Vande Mataram, Congress Objects, Told To Sit Down Abdullahs Stand For Full Vande Mataram, Congress Objects, Told To Sit Down Abdullahs Stand For Full Vande Mataram, Congress Objects, Told To Sit Down Earlier reporting noted: Vande Mataram Row: While ally National Conference has told the Congress that it cannot dictate terms, the BJP has launched a “Muslim League” attack on the Congress. Vande Mataram Row: While ally National Conference has told the Congress that it cannot dictate terms, the BJP has launched a “Muslim League” attack on the Congress.
Earlier reporting noted: Congress’ objection to the rendition of the full Vande Mataram at an event in Srinagar in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has snowballed into a full-blown political war.
