Kerala’s Congress-led UDF government, which is backed by the Indian Union Muslim League, skipped Vande Mataram from its official Independence Day celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram on August 15, despite a directive from the Chief Secretary calling for the national song to be sung in full.
The State-level Independence Day function was held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram in the presence of Chief Minister V D Satheesan. The National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, was sung, but Vande Mataram was absent from the programme.
This came after the Chief Secretary had specifically directed government departments to include the complete rendition of Vande Mataram as part of the Independence Day celebrations under the Union government’s Har Ghar Tiranga campaign.
Yet, when the State government held its main Independence Day function, the national song was nowhere on the programme.
Chief Secretary Says Sing Vande Mataram, Government Leaves It Out
The discrepancy becomes clearer from the subsequent instructions issued by the State government.
On August 11, Director of General Education Snehil Kumar Singh issued a circular to school headmasters and senior education officials regarding Independence Day celebrations. The instructions called for flag hoisting, the National Anthem, patriotic songs and other programmes, besides compliance with the Flag Code of India, 2002.
There was, however, no mention of Vande Mataram.
An August 4 circular issued by the General Administration (Protocol) Department had similarly not mentioned the national song.
This means that while the Chief Secretary had issued a direction to include the full version of Vande Mataram, the subsequent instructions governing celebrations did not carry the song forward.
And on August 15, the State government’s own official function did not include it.
Satheesan Had Said Government’s Position Would Be Clear
The omission also comes after Chief Minister V D Satheesan had publicly commented on the controversy surrounding the Chief Secretary’s directive.
Satheesan had said that the UDF government had a clear position on the issue and that it would become evident during the Independence Day celebrations.
The celebrations have now taken place. The National Anthem was sung. Vande Mataram was not.
The BJP has seized on the omission and accused the government of deliberately excluding the national song from an official State function.
BJP Kerala general secretary S Suresh said the party would examine legal and political options against the government and demanded an explanation from Satheesan.
Suresh also pointed out that Vande Mataram had been sung in full at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi during its Independence Day celebrations.
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