BJP to hold state-wide march against Vande Mataram row from tomorrow

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a five-day padyatra, or march, starting from September 15 across all 224 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka. The primary purpose of this demonstration is to protest the state government's restriction on the full rendition of Vande Mataram at official events. The BJP argues that limiting the national song to just the first two stanzas diminishes its significance in Indian history and patriotism.

B Y Vijayendra, the Karnataka BJP president, stated that the full six stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung as per the Union Home Ministry's directive following the 150th anniversary of the song. The Congress government, however, has ordered the singing of only the first two stanzas at official events, with an exception for gatherings attended by the president, vice president, prime minister, or governor.

Vijayendra believes that this decision was made to appease minority communities. During the padyatra, BJP workers and members of the public will meet local officials, including tahsildars and deputy commissioners, to submit memoranda requesting the withdrawal of the government order. The Congress Working Committee has also decided to adhere to its 1937 resolution, which allows only two stanzas to be sung at party events.

Vijayendra indirectly linked the Enforcement Directorate's searches involving Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi and his family to internal political disputes within the Congress party. He denied any involvement of the BJP in these searches, while questioning whether they were part of a plot to target Jarkiholi for a potential chief ministerial role in 2028.