Bengaluru: Opposition BJP and JD(S) legislators Monday sang all six stanzas of Vande Mataram in the assembly and council, defying govt’s directive to restrict the rendition to two stanzas.In the assembly, the song was sung soon after Speaker GS Patil arrived. The official rendition ended after two stanzas, but BJP and JD(S) members carried on with the rest, even as the Speaker began reading the Preamble to the Constitution. They ended with slogans of “Jai Hind” and later read the Preamble.In the council too, BJP members sang all six stanzas even as chairman Saleem Ahmed read out the Preamble. They then raised slogans against govt for not playing the song in full. Until now, while the assembly played only two stanzas, the council played the song in full.Govt’s decision to limit the official rendition triggered a row with Shimoga BJP legislator SN Channabasappa twice walking out of govt events in protest.Opposition leader Ashoka said: “Vande Mataram is in every cell of our blood. We will sing it in full, inside and outside the House. Let the govt stop us if it can.”Responding to govt’s warning that a case would be filed for violating directions, Ashoka said: “Let them file the case. I will sing it in front of that minister.”Home minister Priyank Kharge later ridiculed BJP, saying: “BJP members claim they know the full song by heart, but you saw them today. They could not pronounce words, and many read. I had said they should recite the last two stanzas without reading from a paper, phone, or teleprompter. If BJP is so interested in the national song, let them stop singing ‘Namaste Sada Vatsale’ (RSS song) and start practising this (Vande Mataram).The House later paid tribute to former BJP legislator RB Shiriyannavar, who passed away recently.
