BJP holds parallel Independence Day event in Thrissur over Vande Mataram row

Party workers first gathered outside the Thrissur Corporation office before marching to Thekke Gopura Nada near the Vadakkunnathan Temple, close to the venue of the official district-level Independence Day celebrations.

In Short

• Party workers march from Thrissur Corporation office to Thekke Gopura Nada
• At the programme, workers hoist the tricolour and sing the full song
• OJ Janeesh calls the protest disrespectful to Independence Day's sanctity

The BJP held a parallel Independence Day programme in Thrissur on Saturday after Vande Mataram was not sung at the official district-level celebrations.

Party workers first gathered outside the Thrissur Corporation office before marching to Thekke Gopura Nada near the Vadakkunnathan Temple, close to the venue of the official district-level Independence Day celebrations.

The workers hoisted the national flag and recited Vande Mataram in full during the programme.

BJP state vice-president KK Aneesh Kumar said the parallel event was organised in protest against those who were unwilling to sing the complete version of the national song despite Parliament passing legislation on the issue.

The official district-level celebrations were attended by Youth Welfare and Sports Minister OJ Janeesh.

MINISTER CALLS BJP PROTEST ‘INSULT’ TO I-DAY

Janeesh hit back at the BJP, saying the protest was disrespectful to the significance of Independence Day.

He said there was nothing wrong with singing Vande Mataram in full, but claimed the BJP should also have ensured that it was rendered correctly.

“The protest staged by the BJP today is an insult to the sanctity of Independence Day,” Janeesh said.

He also took a swipe at the BJP, saying the party may have chosen to treat Independence Day as a day of protest because it had not played a major role in the freedom struggle.

Janeesh described the programme as unfortunate and said it amounted to disrespecting the occasion.

The Thrissur programme added another political dimension to the ongoing debate over the full rendition of Vande Mataram.

VD SATHEESAN HOISTS NATIONAL FLAG

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister VD Satheesan hoisted the national flag at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram and called for building a “New Keralam” rooted in compassion, development, constitutional values, secularism and equality.

Invoking India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his vision for the country, Satheesan said Kerala too must make a pledge for a new era.

“On this Independence Day, we too must also take a pledge for a new-era Kerala. A Kerala imbued with compassion, willingness to serve and tolerance is what must emerge,” he said.

He added that the state’s progress should be driven by development, constitutional values, secularism and the participation of both the younger generation and senior citizens.

No Vande Mataram was played at the official event, contrary to the Union government’s recent directive.

Satheesan began his address by remembering those who died in recent landslides and floods in the state and assured affected families of the government’s support.

“The government will stand firmly by those families. As always, united as one, we will overcome any crisis,” he said. He added that the state was working on a scientific system to better prepare for and respond to flood-related disasters.

- Ends