Thiruvananthapuram: State government order that the national song Vande Mataram must be sung completely in Independence Day celebrations, Muslim League goes wild against this. State government order that Vande Mataram must be sung completely in all public functions which are part of Independence Day celebrations. Chief Secretary Biswanath Sinha gave a letter to the Local Secretary. This is as per central instruction. Following this Muslim League ministers opposed. Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, who is the second in the cabinet, and Education Minister N. Shamsudeen expressed public opposition.
Since the government issued the order, Vande Mataram must now be sung completely in official Independence Day celebrations.
All six stanzas of Vande Mataram must be chanted. Official chanting time is 3 minutes and 10 seconds. The Ministry of Home Affairs had also ordered that states should give these instructions to centers under them.
Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan had criticized chanting Vande Mataram completely in the ceremony where V.D. Satheesan cabinet assumed office. When it became controversial, the Chief Minister evaded saying the Governor’s office organized the function and the government has no responsibility.
P.K. Kunhalikutty responded that it is the League’s stance, following the INDIA front stance that Vande Mataram need not be sung fully. N. Shamsudeen also says it is not a government order but the Governor’s instruction. The League leadership’s stance is that forcefully imposing things against beliefs cannot be accepted and the government should withdraw from such decisions.
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