08-30-2006, 03:32 AM
<b>BJP poll mantra: Vande Mataram</b>
<b>Vande Mataram row gets shriller </b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->While Maharashtraâs Shiv Sena will organise a mass recitation all over Maharashtra on September 7, the Jamaiti-Islami-Hind - a Muslim body in Rajasthan - will be opposing the singing of the patriotic song in its madrasas.
Officials in Rajasthan, however, said that the order is not compulsory, although the state government will see to it that it is followed by all educational institutions.
Though the BJP-ruled Gujarat has also issued specific instructions the education department, asking them to ensure that the song is sung in all educational institutions on September 7, Chief Minister Narendra Modi is conspicuous by his silence.
In Haryana, the ruling Congress and the main Opposition party - Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) - have been unanimous in their decision to sing the song on September 7 and are of the belief that the song's association with the freedom struggle overrides any criticism.
So, as Vande Mataram completes a century of being written with pride and sung with gusto, the question is whether it will face the music for being the national song and will it be reduced to a crass cacophony of political one-upmanship
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Vande Mataram row gets shriller </b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->While Maharashtraâs Shiv Sena will organise a mass recitation all over Maharashtra on September 7, the Jamaiti-Islami-Hind - a Muslim body in Rajasthan - will be opposing the singing of the patriotic song in its madrasas.
Officials in Rajasthan, however, said that the order is not compulsory, although the state government will see to it that it is followed by all educational institutions.
Though the BJP-ruled Gujarat has also issued specific instructions the education department, asking them to ensure that the song is sung in all educational institutions on September 7, Chief Minister Narendra Modi is conspicuous by his silence.
In Haryana, the ruling Congress and the main Opposition party - Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) - have been unanimous in their decision to sing the song on September 7 and are of the belief that the song's association with the freedom struggle overrides any criticism.
So, as Vande Mataram completes a century of being written with pride and sung with gusto, the question is whether it will face the music for being the national song and will it be reduced to a crass cacophony of political one-upmanship
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->