Allies NC, Congress at loggerheads over unabridged version of National Song Vande Mataram

Srinagar: J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra took a dig at alliance partner National Conference for standing up for the unabridged version of the national song during the inaugural function of the ongoing film festival in Srinagar.

"True strength of national symbols, songs and traditions...lies in their ability to bind together a nation as diverse as ours. It is therefore a matter of concern that our alliance partners chose to sing the full version of Vande Mataram, disregarding the considered evolution of the song's place in India's national life - not merely during the freedom movement, but through the constitutional journey of the Republic thereafter," said Karra.

The ruling NC's MLA Tanvir Sadiq reacted to Karra's assertions saying Congress should be telling this to chief ministers in party-ruled states. "Jenab Tariq Karra Sb, please take a look at your congress CMs and share your valuable thoughts with everyone. Thank you!" said Sadiq. He said that the government protocol must be separated from party ideology. "National Conference has a clear stance. When Parliament has adopted it, playing Vande Mataram becomes a statutory obligation and that is what the government did."


He referred to the CMs of non-BJP states such as Telangana and Karnataka who have also played the complete version of Vande Mataram at official functions.