Muraleedharan told reporters that in Kerala, as always, only the first two couplets of the national song will be sung.
“In all state government programmes only the first two couplets were sung in the past, and that practice will continue even now,” he said.
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Unnithan said that the full rendition of Vande Mataram will not take place in Kerala “in this lifetime”.
He also said, while speaking to a TV channel, that while he was unaware of any direction by the Chief Secretary for the complete rendition of the national song, it will not be sung in full “even if Narendra Modi threatens to shoot us down”.
“It will be rendered in the manner it has been sung till now. Nothing more will be sung,” he asserted.Both of them were responding to an August 6 letter of Kerala Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha, stating therein that the 2026 edition of the campaign, launched in 2022 under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, had 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 chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
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Accordingly, all physical celebrations during the period would combine collective singing of Vande Mataram with the hoisting or display of the National Flag, while digital participation would be routed through the Har Ghar Tiranga portal, where citizens could upload their “Selfie with Tricolour”, the letter has said.
The letter was issued following a communication from the Union Ministry of Culture regarding the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, which will be observed from August 9 to 17 this year.
It has also said the Government of India’s instructions regarding the recitation of Vande Mataram would be followed in full.
Muraleedharan said that the chief secretary sometimes issues circulars in connection with central government directions as he is duty-bound to do so.
“But Kerala will not accept it. We will continue with our earlier system. We will follow the same old protocol in all state government events or programmes. Only the first two couplets will be sung,” he asserted.
The minister further said that the full rendition of the national song took place during the oath-taking ceremony as it was held in the presence of the Governor.
He said that in all states, central government protocol is followed in programmes attended by the Governor.
“But central government protocol will not be followed in any Kerala government programmes. Instead, our protocol will be followed,” he emphasised.
Unnithan, while speaking to the TV channel, also alleged that the Lok Bhavans have become the hub of “low-level politics and Governors are now working to sabotage democracy with money power”.
“So what justice can we expect from Governors? They all have turned into sycophants of the central government,” he further claimed.
“We cannot accept the full rendition of the Vande Mataram. Not in this lifetime,” he said.
BJP leader and Kazhakoottam MLA V Muraleedharan said that the UDF government lacks clarity regarding its policy on many matters.
Muraleedharan, a former Union Minister of State, sought to know that if the UDF was claiming that the Lok Bhavan gave instructions to the chief secretary regarding the Vande Mataram rendition, then what is the need for a CM.
“The governor’s office has clarified that no such instruction has been issued by him. It shows the government itself has no clear stand on the issue. The chief secretary implements the policy of the government. He has no role other than that. He functions as per the law of the land,” the BJP leader told reporters.
The opposition CPI(M) has criticised the issuance of the letter directing full rendition of the national song and demanded its withdrawal.
It also alleged that the state government was surrendering to the RSS agenda by issuing such directions.
Senior CPI(M) leader P Rajeev on Sunday alleged that such developments indicate that the UDF government after coming to power was taking steps which make the BJP happy.
He said the “arrangement” between the BJP and the UDF were also clear from the appointments being made in the state universities by the Governor in his capacity as Chancellor.
“It is sent to the chief secretary, he will not act without consulting with anyone. So, this government is fast turning into one that works for the interests of the BJP,” he alleged while speaking to mediapersons.
