Karnataka Government Limits Vande Mataram to Two Stanzas at Official Events

The Karnataka government, led by the Congress party, has announced a directive stating that only the first two stanzas of the national song Vande Mataram will be performed at state-sponsored events. This policy will apply to all official functions, except those attended by the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, or the Governor of Karnataka, according to reports from PTI.

This decision comes in the wake of a directive issued by the Union Home Ministry on January 28, which mandated that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung prior to the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, during public events. Previously, only the initial two stanzas of Vande Mataram were played at such gatherings, while the remaining stanzas, which reference Hindu goddesses like Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati, were omitted.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has claimed that the Congress party’s choice to limit the performance of Vande Mataram to two stanzas is an attempt to appease Muslim sentiments. This contention stems from historical interpretations and political narratives surrounding the song. In August, the Congress reaffirmed its position by citing a resolution from its Working Committee dating back to 1937, which advocated singing only the first two stanzas at its functions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly criticized the Congress for its stance, suggesting that the late Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, supported Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s opposition to Vande Mataram when the resolution was adopted. Modi claims this was based on the belief that the song could potentially offend Muslim communities. The political discourse surrounding Vande Mataram continues to evoke strong sentiments among various factions in the country.

To further complicate the matter, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Amendment Act was enacted in December, which criminalizes disrespect towards the national song. This legislative move adds an additional layer of complexity to the ongoing debate surrounding Vande Mataram and its place in Indian society and politics.

Source: scroll.in