THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid a controversy in Kerala over the singing of Vande Mataram, schools in the state have been asked to hoist the national flag and sing Jana Gana Mana during Independence Day celebrations on August 15, but the latest guidelines issued by the General Education Department make no mention of the National Song.According to instructions issued by the Director of Public Education, heads of institutions must hoist the national flag at 9 am or later on August 15, followed by the national anthem.The guidelines mention only Jana Gana Mana and do not ask schools to sing Vande Mataram. They were issued based on a circular from the Protocol Officer.The directive comes amid a political row over the Centre’s instructions on singing the full version of Vande Mataram. The controversy began after the Chief Secretary forwarded the Centre’s communication to the Local Self Government Department.The opposition CPI(M) criticised the Congress-led state government, accusing it of trying to implement the RSS agenda.Chief Minister V D Satheesan, however, said the Chief Secretary had not issued a separate circular but had only forwarded the Centre’s instructions.“The letter does not contain the policy or stand of the state government,” Satheesan said, adding that the state government would decide the Independence Day programmes in Kerala and has a clear policy on Vande Mataram.“There are just a few days for August 15. You will see then,” he said, while maintaining that the Congress and the UDF have a clear policy on the singing of Vande Mataram.On Friday, the BJP said the Kerala government had a moral obligation to follow the law on the rendition of Vande Mataram. It also alleged that the Congress-led government was under the influence of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key UDF ally, and was therefore unable to take a firm position on the issue.The Centre’s July 9 communication directed that the official version of Vande Mataram be played along with mass singing during the unfurling of the National Flag and at cultural or ceremonial events, except parades.It said singing the National Song on such occasions, with or without instrumental accompaniment, was desirable. It also suggested that schools begin the day’s activities with community singing of Vande Mataram.School authorities were asked to include measures in their programmes to promote the singing of both the National Song and the National Anthem, as well as respect for the National Flag among students.
