BJP Criticizes Congress-Led Kerala Government for Vande Mataram Incident

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a strong condemnation against the Congress-led coalition ruling Kerala, alleging that the state government disrespected the national song, Vande Mataram, at a state assembly event. This occurred as only the opening stanzas were played, leaving Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar dissatisfied.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla argued that the Congress government breached constitutional norms by failing to ensure the complete rendition of Vande Mataram, which is traditionally expected to be performed in full at such events. Poonawalla asserted that this action was due to pressure from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key partner in the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF).

Alleging that this compromise was to appease the IUML, Poonawalla also implicated the Left in supporting these altered protocols. The spokesperson extended criticism to other opposition parties, accusing them of harboring reservations about the national song, which he suggested dated back to historical pressures involving India's early leaders.

Governor Arlekar reinforced these criticisms, emphasizing that full Vande Mataram performances should be mandatory in his presence. However, he noted that during the event, the song was played rather than performed vocally, adding to the controversy.

(With inputs from agencies.)