Vande Mataram row: Himachal House adjourned in 11 minutes

On the opening day of the monsoon session, the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha was abruptly halted after just 11 minutes due to a heated debate over the singing of Vande Mataram. The proceedings commenced with the National Anthem, prompting BJP MLA Vipin Singh Parmar to demand the singing of Vande Mataram and permission from Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania to raise the issue.

Parmar alleged that the Congress party was "insulting" the National Song by only performing two stanzas at their events, citing a new law mandating the full version to be sung first whenever Vande Mataram and the National Anthem were performed together. Pathania, however, clarified that this provision was specific to government events and did not apply to the Vidhan Sabha.

He noted that it was customary for proceedings to begin with the National Anthem and end with Vande Mataram. Parmar suggested that the Opposition cooperate, stating that the first day was reserved for obituary references and tributes to departed members, and assured that the full version of Vande Mataram would be sung at the session's conclusion.

The Opposition, however, refused to cooperate, with Congress MLA Kewal Singh attacking the ruling party and accusing them of disrespecting the National Anthem. Pathania insisted that the House was supreme and that the Vidhan Sabha should follow the established convention.