A fresh political row has erupted in Kerala over the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ at an Assembly event attended by Governor Rajendra Arlekar, with former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan accusing the RSS of trying to impose its agenda through protocol debates. Speaking at a press conference, Vijayan said there was “no need to play the entire Vande Mataram”. “It is RSS agenda that they want it to be played fully. Kerala doesn’t have to bow down to RSS agenda,” Vijayan said.
He also said there was no rule requiring people to stand while ‘Vande Mataram’ was played. “There is no need to stand while Vande Mataram is played. But here everybody stood up, then we too stood,” he remarked.
Vijayan’s comments came after Governor Arlekar expressed displeasure over what he described as a violation of protocol during an Assembly function where only a portion of ‘Vande Mataram’ was played in his presence.
“It is the protocol that whenever governor is present, ‘Vande Mataram’ has to be played or sung fully,” he said. He added that he had immediately conveyed his objection to the Assembly Speaker.
The controversy is the latest flashpoint in the long-running tensions between Kerala’s Left leadership and Governor Arlekar, who has repeatedly clashed with the CPI(M)-led establishment over issues ranging from Assembly proceedings to the display of Bharat Mata portraits at Raj Bhavan events.
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