New Delhi, May 30: The Samajwadi Party (SP) has voiced strong opinions regarding the Vande Mataram controversy in Kerala. SP spokesperson Ashutosh Verma and MP Rajiv Kumar Rai addressed various issues, including the presence of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
In a conversation about the Vande Mataram issue, MP Rajiv Kumar Rai stated, “The role of governors is not truly independent. Just as the British appointed their agents, today’s governors act as agents of the central government. They merely parrot what is said in Delhi.”
On the topic of Bangladeshi infiltrators, Rai urged the government to release data on those expelled, noting that no such actions have been taken in Jharkhand. “Such claims are often made before elections. The same was said regarding the SIR process in Bihar. Even the Supreme Court has turned a blind eye to this matter,” he added.
Regarding the Vande Mataram controversy, the SP spokesperson emphasized, “Nothing should be imposed on anyone. The flexibility of our Constitution makes it unique. You cannot dictate someone’s patriotism. It is a matter of freedom whether one sings the entire Vande Mataram or just four lines. We have always sung just four lines since childhood. Pressuring people to sing the entire song will not work in India.”
Ashutosh Verma criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), calling it a “jumla party.” He referenced official statistics showing that between 2004 and 2014, during the UPA government, 50,972 Bangladeshis were sent back. “These are not my figures; they are from the Indian government itself,” he stated.
In contrast, from 2014 to 2026, only 5,335 Bangladeshis have been repatriated. “When you compare the UPA’s ten years with the Modi government’s eleven years, the reality is clear. This is not even a third or a quarter of the UPA’s numbers. Yet, the rhetoric is ten times larger,” he remarked.
On speculations about D.K. Shivakumar becoming the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Verma praised the Congress party for its effective transformation, crediting Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
Both SP MP Rajiv Rai and spokesperson Ashutosh Verma expressed confidence in forming a government in Uttar Pradesh this time. Rai asserted that the BJP’s departure from the center is also assured once the SP comes to power in UP.
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