New Delhi, September 10 (Daily Kiran) : BJP’s national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sudhanshu Trivedi criticized the Congress party and the Karnataka government on Thursday for not adhering to a law passed by Parliament. This law mandates the recitation of all verses of “Vande Mataram,” a song written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, at any government event or official ceremony.
Trivedi pointed out that state anthems in opposition-ruled states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu also emphasize bowing to the motherland. He questioned whether challenging the national song equates to capitulating to extremist and separatist forces.
The BJP leader alleged that Congress has isolated itself on the issue of “Vande Mataram,” stating that only the Muslim League supports them. His comments referenced Congress’s recent criticism of its ally, the National Conference, regarding the full rendition of the national song at the Jammu and Kashmir International Film Festival’s inauguration.
In response, National Conference leader and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that adherence to the law is now a legal requirement.
Trivedi also condemned a Karnataka government order that allowed only the first two stanzas of “Vande Mataram” to be sung at state events. He asserted, “Every citizen of India knows that no state assembly can create laws against those passed by Parliament. This order is not only illegal and absurd but also reflects Congress’s desire to manipulate the Constitution.”
He referenced a remark by Elias Muhammad Thumbe, the national general secretary of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), who indicated a prior understanding with Congress during the 2018 Karnataka assembly elections to prevent the fragmentation of minority votes. Since this statement emerged during the 2023 state elections, the BJP has targeted Congress over its alleged ties to the controversial organization.
Trivedi noted that while Congress has denied these claims, the SDPI, believed to be the political wing of the banned Islamic organization Popular Front of India (PFI), initially stated its intention to contest elections on 100 assembly seats, later reducing this to 54, and finally only 16 seats, all of which they lost, leading to the forfeiture of their deposits. He suggested that this raises further questions about the secret understanding between the two parties regarding electoral strategies.
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