What happened: Kerala Health Minister says only first two stanzas of “Vande Mataram” will be sung in State programmes
Kerala’s Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government is reported to be backing away from a directive that required government departments to recite “Vande Mataram” in its entirety during Independence Day programmes.
Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said that in State government programmes only the first two stanzas of “Vande Mataram” will be sung.
Muraleedharan also said that Chief Secretary circulars sometimes reflect Union government directives.
Kerala ministers stated that the Chief Secretary acted in line with Lok Bhavan (Kerala government secretariat) instructions, while Lok Bhavan reportedly denied issuing any such direction.
Background and earlier position: Opposition links the full-song recital to secularism and RSS agenda claims
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