Thiruvananthapuram: Health and Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan on Sunday said the Kerala government had made only the singing of the National Anthem compulsory during the Independence Day celebrations in the state.
He was replying to reporters’ questions on why Vande Mataram was not sung during the state government’s official Independence Day celebrations in Kerala.
“The Kerala government insists only on the national anthem. Not just Vande Mataram; any patriotic song can be sung. It isn’t just Vande Mataram; there are several other patriotic songs. On Thursday, other patriotic songs were sung at the Central Stadium as part of the official Independence Day celebration,” he said.
Muraleedharan said the singing of Vande Mataram had been turned into a controversy, which was why it was not sung on Independence Day, and not due to any lack of respect for it.
“We have accepted singing the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram from the very beginning,” he said.
Regarding the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at the AICC office in New Delhi, Muraleedharan said the national leadership would respond.
“The national leadership of the Congress is the one that needs to clarify its stance on what happened. We only have hearsay information about it. Therefore, let a detailed explanation come from Delhi,” he said.
Reacting to CPI(M) leader A A Rahim’s remark that Vande Mataram was not sung in Kerala out of fear of the Left parties, Muraleedharan said, “All I have to say to my dear friend is: ‘Don’t boast like this.'”
On the reorganisation of the KPCC, Muraleedharan said it would take place soon.
“I cannot say ‘two weeks,’ but reorganisation matters will happen very soon. Not just the KPCC president, but also DCC presidents who are MLAs have requested to be relieved of their posts. Accordingly, there will be an overhaul. My opinion remains that having a ‘one-man, one-post’ policy is much better for the party’s functioning,” he added.
Asked about the absence of any mention of Chief Minister V D Satheesan at an event held in Malappuram to felicitate Congress MLAs, Muraleedharan said, “No, the Ponnani MLA mentioned it, didn’t he? The administration in Kerala is running under the leadership of the chief minister. So, all its achievements are rightfully credited to the chief minister as well. It belongs to the party as well.”
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