Political friction across the country has intensified following the inclusion of Vande Mataram singing as a mandatory feature on Independence Day. The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Congress party of showing disrespect toward the national song, alleging that while the full national anthem played at the party headquarters, the top leadership appeared visibly uncomfortable. Furthermore, allegations have emerged from Goa claiming that Congress members failed to sing the complete Vande Mataram, adding fuel to an already burning political firestorm.
BK Hariprasad Issues Defiant Challenge
Amidst this ongoing war of words, Karnataka Congress state president B.K. Hariprasad adopted an uncompromising stance and issued a sharp statement. He stated unequivocally that party members will only sing two lines of Vande Mataram. B.K. Hariprasad boldly asserted that whether Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and the BJP decide to send him to prison or hang him from the gallows, his position on this sensitive issue will remain entirely unchanged.
Historical Slogans And Questions For The Opposition
The Congress leader did not stop there and launched a direct verbal assault on the ruling party and its ideological parent. B.K. Hariprasad recalled that during the historic freedom struggle, slogans of Inquilab Zindabad were raised right alongside Vande Mataram. He questioned whether the BJP and RSS had ever chanted either of those historic slogans during the nation's fight for independence. He firmly maintained that the Congress party does not require a certificate of patriotism from any other political formation.
Constitutional Rights And Earlier Remarks
This fierce controversy unfolds while a broader legislative and political battle persists between the ruling establishment and the opposition concerning proposed laws and national symbols. Earlier in the ongoing debate, Congress MP Imran Masood had invoked constitutional rights, stating that religious freedom is guaranteed by the supreme law of the land. He had clarified that while he would respectfully stand up during the rendition, he would not actually sing the song due to his personal faith.
Mallikarjun Kharge Defends Party Tradition
Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge mounted a strong counter-attack against the allegations of partial singing. Interacting with reporters, he stated that the party has merely followed the exact same tradition that has been practiced for numerous decades. Mallikarjun Kharge pointed out that this was the very same version of Vande Mataram sung by historical figures ranging from Mahatma Gandhi to Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He added that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also followed this practice, which continued even when the ruling party held power in various states. He remarked sarcastically that if legal cases are to be filed over this issue, authorities should file them against all of those iconic leaders as well.
