08-29-2006, 07:23 AM
<!--emo&:bcow--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/b_cowboy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='b_cowboy.gif' /><!--endemo--> Parties unanimous on Vande Mataram
Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 28
The ruling Congress and the main opposition party Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana are unanimous in their admiration of the song Vande Mataram and believe that the songâs association with the freedom struggle overrides any criticism that may be hurled at the ode penned by the late Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
The unanimity is in stark contrast to some other states where the Union Human Resources Ministryâs recent directive regarding celebration of the anniversary of the song has pitted rival political parties against each other.
Hopefully, Haryana would figure among those states where the celebration would be set in a secular context sans the vulgar religious passions instigated by communal parties elsewhere.
The Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today told the TNS that the anniversary of the song on September 7 would be observed in Haryana. The Chief Minister said the role played by the song in the freedom struggle had placed it in a very special milieu. âWe should not disown important traditions of the past,â Mr Hooda said.
The Education Minister, Mr Phool Chand Mullana, also echoed similar views and said the government would try to ensure the participation of school children on the occasion of the celebration next month.
Mr Mullana said he had not yet seen the HRD Ministryâs directive, but added that the song was known for its patriotic fervour and therefore there was no reason why its anniversary should not be celebrated in Haryana.
Mr Ashok Arora, President of the Haryana unit of the INLD, said the song was known for its popularity among freedom fighters and it should be taken as such. While welcoming the celebration of the anniversary of the song, he said, âThe song inevitably brings back the memories of the days of the freedom struggle.â
Despite being cleared by various committees and with even the Constituent Assembly stamping its approval on the song as the national song, Vande Mataram still manages to ruffle feathers. This is because of the incorporation of the song by Chattopadhyay in his controversial novel âAnandamathâ, the story of which had hurt Muslim sentiments.
The BJP too was contacted and its reaction to the issue was on the expected lines. Mr Ganeshi Lal, President of Haryana BJP, suggested sending to mental asylum those who were opposing the celebration of the anniversary of the song.
Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 28
The ruling Congress and the main opposition party Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana are unanimous in their admiration of the song Vande Mataram and believe that the songâs association with the freedom struggle overrides any criticism that may be hurled at the ode penned by the late Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
The unanimity is in stark contrast to some other states where the Union Human Resources Ministryâs recent directive regarding celebration of the anniversary of the song has pitted rival political parties against each other.
Hopefully, Haryana would figure among those states where the celebration would be set in a secular context sans the vulgar religious passions instigated by communal parties elsewhere.
The Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today told the TNS that the anniversary of the song on September 7 would be observed in Haryana. The Chief Minister said the role played by the song in the freedom struggle had placed it in a very special milieu. âWe should not disown important traditions of the past,â Mr Hooda said.
The Education Minister, Mr Phool Chand Mullana, also echoed similar views and said the government would try to ensure the participation of school children on the occasion of the celebration next month.
Mr Mullana said he had not yet seen the HRD Ministryâs directive, but added that the song was known for its patriotic fervour and therefore there was no reason why its anniversary should not be celebrated in Haryana.
Mr Ashok Arora, President of the Haryana unit of the INLD, said the song was known for its popularity among freedom fighters and it should be taken as such. While welcoming the celebration of the anniversary of the song, he said, âThe song inevitably brings back the memories of the days of the freedom struggle.â
Despite being cleared by various committees and with even the Constituent Assembly stamping its approval on the song as the national song, Vande Mataram still manages to ruffle feathers. This is because of the incorporation of the song by Chattopadhyay in his controversial novel âAnandamathâ, the story of which had hurt Muslim sentiments.
The BJP too was contacted and its reaction to the issue was on the expected lines. Mr Ganeshi Lal, President of Haryana BJP, suggested sending to mental asylum those who were opposing the celebration of the anniversary of the song.