THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala transport minister CP John on Monday accused the BJP of “pinpricking” the state government over the issue of singing the national song Vande Mataram in full.He added that such attempts needed to be viewed with caution, news agency PTI reported.John said Vande Mataram was a “beautiful song”, but contained elements of a devotional or prayer song.While there was nothing wrong with devotional songs, he said, singing about a particular religion could be inappropriate in a secular state.“We are not allergic to bhakti songs. But in a secular state, it is wrong to sing things about a particular religion,” John said, explaining that the song had historically been restricted to a few stanzas.He alleged that the BJP was deliberately raising the issue by insisting on a complete rendition of Vande Mataram and making arrangements for it, PTI reported.John said his party, the CMP, believed that only the first two couplets of the national song, as decided by the AICC, should be sung.His remarks came in response to questions about an August 6 letter from Kerala chief secretary Bishwanath Sinha regarding the 2026 edition of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav campaign.The campaign has been integrated with the third phase of the nationwide commemoration of 150 years of the National Song Vande Mataram, as approved by the National Implementation Committee headed by Union home minister Amit Shah.According to the letter, physical events during the campaign would include collective singing of Vande Mataram along with the hoisting or display of the national flag.Digital participation would be facilitated through the Har Ghar Tiranga portal, where citizens could upload their “Selfie with Tricolour”.The letter also stated that the Centre’s instructions regarding the recitation of Vande Mataram would be followed in full.(With agency inputs)
