Aizawl: Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma told the assembly on Monday night that the national song can be accepted in the state only up to the second stanza, in line with the position accepted by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.Replying to opposition members during discussion on his budgetary demands, Lalduhoma addressed whether govt officials and students should remain standing while Vande Mataram is sung or played. He said the first two stanzas are viewed as patriotic and not offensive to any religion.
“However, the rest of the stanzas have religious connotations with praises of Hindu goddesses. That is why the issue has become controversial in Parliament,” he said.The chief minister said he was unaware of any formal consultation by the Centre with the state govt on the issue.“I do not know if there is a notification issued by the Centre in this regard. It may be possible the notification or instruction has been sent to the state chief secretary, but it is yet to reach my office,” he said.Lalduhoma said that if the central govt wants Vande Mataram to be sung or played at official functions and in educational institutions, Mizoram may accept only the first and second stanzas. He said anything beyond that would not be acceptable to the people or the state govt.The remarks came amid growing opposition in Mizoram to any move to make Vande Mataram mandatory in schools and colleges.The Mizo Zirlai Pawl, the state’s apex students’ body, said on March 9 that it strongly opposed such a proposal, warning that it would be inappropriate and insensitive in the Christian-majority state.In a statement, the organisation said the idea of daily singing of Vande Mataram in educational institutions needed careful reconsideration. It said schools and colleges should remain spaces for learning and intellectual growth, not venues for practices unrelated to academic development.The student body also said it would oppose any attempt to use educational institutions for what it sees as politically driven or religiously motivated purposes.
