Bedlam over ‘Vande Mataram’ non-rendition continues to rock Himachal Assembly

The bedlam over the non-rendition of ‘Vande Matram’ on the commencement of the monsoon session continued for the second consecutive day today with the Congress and BJP locking horns over the issue, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the house till August 24.

With Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur raising the issue immediately after the Question Hour today, the house witnessed uproarious scenes as treasury benches and opposition MLA’s indulged in counter sloganeering over the issue. As both sides engaged in counter sloganeering, the Speaker Kuldeep Pathania adjourned the house till 2 pm.

Later, when the house re-assembled post lunch, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reiterated that BJP had insulted the national anthem in the Assembly yesterday. An enraged opposition again resorted to sloganeering which was countered by the treasury benches.

What followed was complete pandemonium with both sides raising slogans. Repeated pleas by the Speaker to restore order failed, forcing him to adjourn the house till Monday.

Refuting allegations of insult of the national anthem by the BJP legislators yesterday, LoP Jai Ram Thakur requested the Speaker to play the video of the national anthem being played in the Assembly, yesterday to ascertain the truth. “An attempt is being made to create a false perception that BJP had insulted the national anthem. The CM must tender an apology, both inside and outside the house for his misleading remarks,” he demanded.

Responding to LoP, Sukhu said the national anthem and national song are songs of the nation and not of any particular party, region or community. “The opposition is guilty of insulting the national anthem. They do not even honour the Tricolour as they had flung shoes on the vehicle of the Revenue Minister which had the national flag on it,” CM reiterated amidst sloganeering by the opposition.

The Chief Minister said the Congress leaders had played an important role in the freedom struggle. “BJP only indulges in theatrics and is trying to politicise the issue of national song and anthem,” said Sukhu.