In a bold move, Meghalaya’s MLA Adelbert Nongrum has taken a stand against the Union Home Ministry’s mandate requiring the complete six-stanza rendition of Vande Mataram at official functions. As a Christian leader, Nongrum raises concerns about potential infringements on Article 25 of the Constitution, which safeguards religious freedoms.
Shillong: Opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) legislator Adelbert Nongrum has petitioned the Meghalaya govt against the new guidelines issued by the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) mandating the rendition of the full six-stanza version of Vande Mataram at govt functions, official events and school assemblies.The practice so far had been singing only the first two stanzas of the celebrated composition of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay that was adopted by the constituent assembly as the national song in 1950.The MHA in its order on Feb 6 stated that the ‘official version’ of the song now included all six stanzas of the original composition.The MLA, representing North Shillong, handed over his petition to chief secretary Shakil P Ahammed here on Friday.
Nongrum told the media that he had urged the state govt to register a ‘strong protest’ against the recent instructions circulated to various departments and offices, calling for the strict observance of playing and mass singing of the full-length version of Vande Mataram at all official events.“I want to clearly state that I am not against the national song Vande Mataram. But I am totally against the full-length version of the national song and I fully subscribe to the first two stanzas,” Nongrum said.
He pointed out that the Constitution did not explicitly mention a national song, and therefore, the recent instruction raised an anomaly.The lawmaker said enforcing the full version could infringe upon Article 25 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees citizens the freedom of religion.“As a Christian believer, I would like to quote the first of the Ten Commandments — ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not have any strange God before me’,” Nongrum said.He appealed to the state govt to make appropriate corrections to the MHA instructions so that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram are rendered at official events in the state.
