Thiruvananthapuram: BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has alleged that the decision not to sing Vande Mataram as part of Independence Day celebrations in Kerala raises serious constitutional and legal issues. Chandrasekhar said a govt that had sworn to protect the Constitution and uphold the rule of law should show the same responsibility towards national symbols. He alleged that the state govt’s decision on issues concerning nationalism appeared to have been influenced by political pressure.He questioned why Kerala had adopted a different approach when official functions involving the national anthem and national song were being held in Congress-ruled Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, as well as Jammu and Kashmir.Chandrasekhar said the chief minister must fulfil the responsibility undertaken through his oath of office. He said Vande Mataram holds an important place in India’s freedom struggle and that Centre had earlier made it clear that the song should be accorded due respect along with the national anthem, in keeping with the wishes of the Constituent Assembly.He said singing the national anthem or national song should not be turned into a religious controversy. He alleged that the controversy was being used to divide society along religious lines.Targeting Congress, he alleged that the party was increasingly coming under the influence of the Indian Union Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami for political gains. Referring to Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the politics surrounding Partition, Chandrasekhar alleged that the echoes of such “separatist politics” were being heard again in Kerala.He accused Congress of being willing to compromise on constitutional values, the rule of law and nationalism for political interests. “The country comes first; politics comes later,” he said.Chandrasekhar also alleged that BJP and NDA would strongly oppose any attempt to divide India on religious lines. He announced that BJP would organize a statewide public campaign on the issue of Vande Mataram.Meanwhile, health and devaswom minister K Muraleedharan said the state govt had made only the singing of the national anthem compulsory during the I-Day celebrations.“Kerala govt insists only on the national anthem. Not just Vande Mataram; any patriotic song can be sung. It isn’t just Vande Mataram; there are several other patriotic songs. On Thursday, other patriotic songs were sung at the Central Stadium as part of the official Independence Day celebration,” he told reporters.Police record BJP councillor’s statementKozhikode Town police on Sunday recorded the statement of BJP councillor Navya Haridas at her residence as part of a preliminary inquiry into the dispute that broke out during the I-Day celebrations at the Kozhikode corporation office.The dispute arose during the flag-hoisting ceremony on Saturday, when 13 BJP councillors started singing Vande Mataram while councillors of the civic body, including mayor O Sadashivan, were rendering the national anthem. The two songs were sung simultaneously, leading to a confrontation between members of BJP and the CPM-led ruling council.The mayor and other civic representatives left after completing the national anthem, while the BJP councillors continued with Vande Mataram.Police received three complaints from different political groups over the incident. Haridas has reportedly told police that it was the mayor who interrupted Vande Mataram.(With inputs from PTI)
