Will recite Vande Matram with all 109 BJP MLAs on Jan 7: Former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Rajendra sharma | TNN | Jan 2, 2019, 19:21 ISTBHOPAL: The row over discontinuing 'Vande Matram' in Madhya Pradesh secretariat escalated on Wednesday with former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan saying that he will recite the national song with all 109 MLAs of BJP at the Mantralaya ground on January 7. Chouhan said that after the recitation, the MLAs will take oath in the assembly.
"I and all 109 MLAs of BJP will recite `Vande Matram' at the Vallabh Bhavan (secretariat) ground on January 7 at 10 am. People are welcome to join the movement", tweeted Chouhan.
Chouhan's statement came in the wake of Congress-led state government's decision not to continue the national song on the first working day of the month. When BJP leaders objected to the decision on Tuesday, chief minister Kamal Nath clarified that discontinuation of Vande Matram was temporary and the practice would be restored in a new form.
"We have no bad intentions of breaking or protesting against the national song. The order to recite Vande Mataram in the secretariat has been put on hold. A decision has been taken to implement the order in a new form. Those who do not recite Vande Mataram are not patriots?", Nath had said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
Officials of the state secretariat said that singing of the national song in the Mantralaya had been the rule on the first working day of every month. This was started during the BJP regime led by the then chief minister Babulal Gaur in 2005. Later, Chouhan continued the tradition when he took charge of the government.
"I would personally talk to chief minister and the chief secretary to restore the recitation of Vande Matram at the state secretariat. This is not a ritual but a patriotic feel", said former CM, Babulal Gaur.
Hitting out at the Congress, Chouhan said, "If the Congress doesn't know the lyrics of Vande Mataram or if they feel ashamed singing it, then let me know. I along with people will sing it on the first day of every month at the Vallabh Bhawan premises”.
Targeting Nath over the issue, BJP MLA from Huzur (Bhopal), Rameshwar Sharma said the chief minister should clarify why his government wants to change a good tradition. "We suspect that the CM has caved under pressure from his Delhi bosses to woo a particular community".
"I and all 109 MLAs of BJP will recite `Vande Matram' at the Vallabh Bhavan (secretariat) ground on January 7 at 10 am. People are welcome to join the movement", tweeted Chouhan.
Chouhan's statement came in the wake of Congress-led state government's decision not to continue the national song on the first working day of the month. When BJP leaders objected to the decision on Tuesday, chief minister Kamal Nath clarified that discontinuation of Vande Matram was temporary and the practice would be restored in a new form.
"We have no bad intentions of breaking or protesting against the national song. The order to recite Vande Mataram in the secretariat has been put on hold. A decision has been taken to implement the order in a new form. Those who do not recite Vande Mataram are not patriots?", Nath had said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
Officials of the state secretariat said that singing of the national song in the Mantralaya had been the rule on the first working day of every month. This was started during the BJP regime led by the then chief minister Babulal Gaur in 2005. Later, Chouhan continued the tradition when he took charge of the government.
"I would personally talk to chief minister and the chief secretary to restore the recitation of Vande Matram at the state secretariat. This is not a ritual but a patriotic feel", said former CM, Babulal Gaur.
Hitting out at the Congress, Chouhan said, "If the Congress doesn't know the lyrics of Vande Mataram or if they feel ashamed singing it, then let me know. I along with people will sing it on the first day of every month at the Vallabh Bhawan premises”.
Targeting Nath over the issue, BJP MLA from Huzur (Bhopal), Rameshwar Sharma said the chief minister should clarify why his government wants to change a good tradition. "We suspect that the CM has caved under pressure from his Delhi bosses to woo a particular community".
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