National anthem in morning, Vande Mataram in evening must: Jaipur Mayor 

The letter, signed by JMC Additional Commissioner Har Sahay Meena, states that the aim is to instill nationalism and patriotism. 

Written by Hamza Khan | Jaipur | Published:October 31, 2017 10:23 pm
national anthem compulsory, national anthem compulsory in Jaipur govt offices, national song compulsory, Jaipur Mayor Ashok Lahoty, indian express news The decision was taken by the Jaipur Mayor Ashok Lahoty and JMC Commissioner Ravi Jain, and written orders were issued on Monday.(Source: twitter/@AshokLahotyBJP)

THE JAIPUR Municipal Corporation (JMC) has made it mandatory for its staff to sing the national anthem in the morning and national song in the evening. Jaipur Mayor Ashok Lahoty said anyone opposing this decision “should go to Pakistan”. The decision was taken by Lahoty and JMC Commissioner Ravi Jain, and written orders were issued on Monday. The letter, signed by JMC Additional Commissioner Har Sahay Meena, states that the aim is to instill nationalism and patriotism.

In the first phase, the national anthem and national song will be played at the JMC headquarters, it says. The national anthem will be played at 9:50 am and Vande Mataram at 5:55 pm. While the orders were implemented at the JMC headquarters on Tuesday, the zonal offices and fire stations are expected to follow. “There was no immediate reason or cause to take this initiative. At the institution where we work, we should begin our day with positive energy. So in any nation and government office, there cannot be a bigger positive sense or positive energy than the national anthem,” said Lahoty.

He said the recital of national anthem has many benefits. “Apart from patriotism and love for nation, it will also develop work culture, where everyone gets down to work with positive energy. It will also increase collectivity and discipline; another aim is to make people come to office on time,” he said. As for Vande Mataram in the evening, Lahoty said: “A person returns home with work fatigue, (but) he should leave office temperament in office itself. So, before going home, there cannot be a bigger festival for us than (singing) the national song. They should go home with positive energy from the national song and give quality time to people in their home, rather than create an ‘atmosphere’ at home from office tension.”

He said the staff don’t have to assemble in one place, and they can participate from wherever they are. “We are not asking anyone to chant a religious slogan. So if anyone opposes the national anthem and song, there are no restrictions, but they should go to Pakistan,” he said. Responding to a question on why he felt the need to instil “patriotism and nationalism”, he pointed out that some employees asked their colleagues to stand at attention when the anthem was played. “So, every child should know what one’s stance should be during the anthem; they should know which nation they are living in.”

A BJP counsellor from Jaipur’s ward number 43, Lahoty was elected Mayor in December last year. State Congress vice president Archana Sharma said her party supported the move, but criticised Lahoty over his reference to Pakistan. “When the tradition started Tuesday morning, all Congress counsellors were present during the national anthem. However, the Mayor still said that those who oppose the move should go to Pakistan. This makes it clear that even without any opposition to the initiative, he wants to add his name to the list of BJP leaders who are competing with each other to display their patriotism,” she said.

She said the BJP wanted to hide its civic failures under the garb of patriotism. The JMC employees union, Karamchari Trade Union, welcomed the move. “It is a good step, employees can give a minute to the national anthem and the song,” said Union president Komal Yadav. JMC employees too welcomed the move.