Hyderabad: A political row erupted in the assembly after a handful of AIMIM MLAs present in the house walked out during the full rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ played before and after the governor’s budget address, even as they remained present for ‘Jaya Jaya He Telangana’. AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi was not present in the house t the time.This marked the first occasion when Vande Mataram was played in its entirety before and after the governor’s speech in the assembly. Prior to the rendition, the official state song of Telangana, ‘Jaya Jaya He Telangana’, was played.In a recent directive, the Centre mandated that Vande Mataram be included in all govt programmes.As the session began, Jaya Jaya He Telangana was played first with AIMIM members present in the House. However, when Vande Mataram began, some of the party’s MLAs and MLCs who were seated in the last row stood up and walked out of the assembly, even as two legislators including Jaffar Hussain remained in the house as they did not notice their counterparts leaving. The two legislators were in a row ahead of those who walked out. Those who walked out returned only after the song ended. The move triggered a political controversy inside the House. However, before the Vande Mataram was played post the governor’s speech, AIMIM MLA Ahmed Bala walked out of the house. While it was being played three other AIMIM legislators walked out. BJP legislators sharply criticised the walkout, calling it an insult to national sentiment and constitutional values. They accused AIMIM members of showing disrespect to Vande Mataram and urged the speaker to take action.BJP MLAs said elected representatives who fail to honour such national symbols send a wrong message to the public.Union minister of state for home Bandi Sanjay in a post on X said: “Shameful that MIM MLAs chose to walk out of the Telangana Assembly while Vande Mataram was being sung. This isn’t a protest; it is a direct insult to the national song and the spirit of our motherland. Why is MIM allergic to Indian symbols? Their true colors are out for everyone to see.”
