Senior BJP leader Vipin Singh Parmar accused Himachal's ruling Congress of politicising the Vande Mataram controversy. BJP MLAs protested, alleging disrespect to the National Song by not singing its full version as per a parliamentary decision.
BJP Slams Congress Over Vande Mataram Row in HP Assembly
Senior BJP leader and Himachal Pradesh MLA and former Assembly Speaker Vipin Singh Parmar accused the ruling Congress of politicising the National Anthem and National Song controversy, alleging that the ruling party had deliberately ignored the Opposition's demand to sing the full version of Vande Mataram in accordance with a recent parliamentary decision. Parmar was speaking after BJP legislators staged a protest outside the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on the opening day of the monsoon session, raising slogans over what they described as disrespect to Vande Mataram. The protest came after a heated confrontation between the Opposition and treasury benches inside the House over the National Anthem and National Song.
'Stood Respectfully for National Anthem': Parmar
The BJP leader rejected Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's allegation that BJP MLAs had disrespected the National Anthem, saying the Opposition had stood respectfully during the National Anthem and only raised a point of order after it was completed. "Today was the first day of the monsoon session, and proceedings began with the National Anthem. All members of the House stood and sang the National Anthem collectively. After that, we returned to our seats. We then raised a point of order before the Speaker," Parmar said.
Parmar said the Opposition's objection was based on what he described as a recent decision of Parliament concerning the National Song. "A law has recently been made in Parliament that the National Song Vande Mataram should be sung in its complete form, not merely two stanzas but all four stanzas," he said. According to Parmar, the BJP members repeatedly requested the Speaker to consider the demand but felt that their request was ignored. "We repeatedly requested the Honourable Speaker that, according to the recent decision and the law that has been made, the National Song should be sung in its complete form. But our request was ignored," he said.
He alleged that the Opposition was subsequently portrayed as having disrespected the National Anthem. "We have not said anything disrespectful or anti-national. In fact, the disrespect came from the treasury benches. When we were demanding that the National Song be sung, slogans were being raised from there," Parmar alleged.
Parmar Challenges CM to Release Video Footage
He challenged the Chief Minister to release the video footage of the proceedings to establish who was actually shouting during the controversy. "The Chief Minister was present there. I request him to get the complete video released. Let the people of Himachal Pradesh see who was shouting and who was not," Parmar said. He maintained that the BJP members had shown full respect to the National Anthem. "We sang the National Anthem with complete respect and then sat down. After that, I raised my hand and requested the Speaker to allow me to raise a point of order. If there was any disrespect, let the video footage be placed before the people," he said.
Debate Over Law and Assembly Traditions
Parmar also referred to Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania's statement that legislation passed by Parliament remains subject to judicial scrutiny. He said the fact that a law could be challenged in court did not mean that it could simply be disregarded before any judicial decision had been delivered. "The Speaker said that the law is part of judicial scrutiny and that the legislature is supreme. But if someone wants to challenge a law in court, they have the right to do so. No final decision has been delivered by any court so far," Parmar said.
He also pointed to the celebrations held on August 15, claiming that the complete version of Vande Mataram had been sung at events attended by Union ministers. "On August 15, we saw that wherever ministers went, the complete National Song was sung--not just two stanzas but all the stanzas. Then what was the problem in this Assembly?" he asked. Parmar defended the established traditions of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly and said such conventions were not simply written in books but developed over time through consensus. "The Assembly has had excellent traditions since Himachal Pradesh's legislature came into existence. Traditions are not created merely in books; they are built over time," he said.
He said governments and Speakers in the past had created new conventions through mutual agreement. "As Leader of the House and Chief Minister, he should have taken the lead and said that the complete National Song should be sung. That would have created a new tradition. A small person does not become bigger, nor does a big person become smaller by doing so," Parmar said. He also reminded that he himself had served as Speaker and that several conventions had been established through consensus during his tenure.
'Uproar Deprived Legislators of Raising Public Issues'
Parmar said the disruption had deprived legislators of an opportunity to raise issues concerning the public during the session. "The people of Himachal Pradesh work hard, and this session is watched by lakhs of people. Public-interest issues are supposed to be raised here. But we have been deprived of that opportunity," he said. He said he had brought a motion concerning 130 issues, but the House could not transact normal business because of the uproar. "The responsibility lies with the ruling party. If the session could run for 70 minutes elsewhere, why could it not run here?" he asked.
'Paying Respect to Motherland is Basic Sentiment of Vande Mataram'
Parmar strongly rejected suggestions that the BJP's position was anti-national or opposed to the National Anthem. He said the BJP respected every religion and community and argued that Vande Mataram itself represented respect for the motherland rather than discrimination against any particular community. "Secularism means that every religion and every caste living in this country is respected. We respect everyone, irrespective of their religion or caste," Parmar said. Explaining the meaning he attributed to Vande Mataram, he said the expression represented reverence for the motherland that provides people with water, air, food, minerals and the soil in which they grow. "We are the children of this Bharat Mata. Paying respect to the motherland is the basic sentiment behind Vande Mataram," he said.
Parmar said the BJP was willing to debate the issue further, including the historical and constitutional dimensions of Vande Mataram, but insisted that the controversy should not be used to portray the party as disrespectful of national symbols. "If we discuss Vande Mataram, we should discuss its basic sentiment and meaning. That applies equally to the Opposition and the ruling party," he said.
Controversy Becomes Major Political Flashpoint
The remarks came after BJP MLAs and supporters staged a protest outside the Assembly following the disruption inside the House. The protesters raised slogans against the Congress government and accused the ruling party of disrespecting Vande Mataram. The Congress and BJP have traded allegations over the episode. Chief Minister Sukhu has accused BJP legislators of disrespecting the National Anthem, while the BJP has alleged that the ruling side insulted the National Song by refusing to consider its demand for the complete version of Vande Mataram. Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania subsequently adjourned the Assembly for the day, saying the House follows the established practice of beginning with the National Anthem and concluding the session with the National Song. The controversy is now set to become a major political flashpoint during the monsoon session, with both sides accusing each other of politicising national symbols and using the issue to divert attention from substantive legislative and public-interest matters. (ANI)
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