Protect the essence of the Constitution. The CPI(M) Polit Bureau raised this demand with the Centre in the wake of the 'Vande Mataram' directive.
The controversy has reignited over the recent guidelines issued by the BJP-led government at the Centre, which state that all six stanzas of the national song 'Vande Mataram' must be sung before the national anthem 'Jana Gana Man' at official and other functions. The two stanzas of Vande Mataram are usually sung. There is no obligation to sing them before Jana Gana Mana.
But on January 28, the Union Home Ministry issued a directive stating that all six stanzas of the national song Vande Mataram must be sung at government functions and other events. It is also said that when singing the national song and the national anthem, 'Vande Mataram' must be performed first.
Regarding that directive, the CPI(M) Politburo said on Thursday that Article 51A(a) of the Indian Constitution clearly states that it is the duty of every citizen to respect the national flag and the national anthem. The adoption of the song Vande Mataram as the national anthem was discussed in detail in the Constituent Assembly. A statement by President Rajendra Prasad on this issue was accepted by the Constituent Assembly. Where it is stated that only two stanzas of Vande Mataram shall be sung. The Constituent Assembly felt that the remaining four stanzas were not compatible with the secular character of the Indian Republic. Recent government directives have asked for all four stanzas to be sung.
The Politburo said that the BJP-led central government is trying to create unnecessary controversy over the national anthem and national songs for ill-intentioned reasons. The BJP government should not be allowed to play with such historical cultural symbols. The Politburo said that we demand that the government immediately withdraw this order to protect the essence of the constitution.
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