CH NEWS
BENGALURU
The Congress government in Karnataka has issued an order restricting the singing or playing of Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas at State government functions.
The order, issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) following a Cabinet decision, makes an exception for functions involving the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor. At such events, the complete six-stanza version of the national song will be played.
The government said the decision was aimed at maintaining “uniformity, dignity and appropriate protocol” in the rendition of Vande Mataram, depending on the nature and context of government programmes and functions held in the State.
The order noted that Vande Mataram played an important role in promoting nationalism, unity and patriotism during the Indian national movement. It also referred to guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs prescribing the official version of the national song and procedures for its singing or playing at government and public programmes.
Earlier this year, the Narendra Modi government mandated the full six-stanza version of Vande Mataram as the national song. Before this, the first two stanzas were generally rendered at public events.
The Karnataka government’s decision is in line with the Congress position of retaining only the first two stanzas at most public functions. The party has argued that the remaining four stanzas contain religious imagery that could be perceived as exclusionary.