Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar expressed strong displeasure with the incomplete rendition of Vande Mataram during the opening session of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly.
The order mentions that every student must participate in singing the national song at the start of the school day, while heads of institutions have been asked to ensure strict compliance.
BJP leader Anurag Thakur, who had raised the issue in Parliament during the Budget Session, said that it is a proud moment for every Indian who holds Vande Mataram dear.
In Bengal, Vande Mataram is not merely a slogan or a ceremonial song.
The Imam of Ujjain, Mufti Sayyid Nasir Ali Nadvi, on Saturday criticised the Union and state governments’ decision, terming it “unconstitutional” and in contravention of the "right to religious freedom”.
PM Modi accused Congress of “kneeling before the Muslim League” and fracturing Vande Mataram in 1937, as the Lok Sabha marked 150 years of the national song in a charged debate.
The recent controversy in the wake of the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram is unjustified and unwarranted. After the ministry formation in 1937, Hindu-Muslim tension peaked in United Bengal.
He said the song has not only ignited patriotic feelings amongst people but also has been inspiring the citizens to work to undertake nation building for the past 150 years.
The best entries will be featured in a special exhibition. The winners will receive cash prizes and an invitation to the Republic Day Parade.
"Our goal should be nation first. If the nation is one, we are one. Obstruction in the path of Vande Mataram is the biggest obstacle to national unity," he claimed.
