BJP to launch five-day padayatra in Karnataka over Vande Mataram stanza limit
The BJP will hold a five-day padayatra across Karnataka's 224 Assembly constituencies from September 15 to protest the State government's decision to restrict Vande Mataram to two stanzas at official events.
The Bharatiya Janata Party will organise a five-day padayatra across all 224 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka beginning Tuesday, September 15, to protest the State government's decision to limit the rendition of Vande Mataram to two stanzas at official events.
Announcing the programme on Saturday, party State president B.Y. Vijayendra said the foot march would involve party workers as well as members of the public. Participants will meet Tahsildars and Deputy Commissioners to submit memoranda urging the government to withdraw the decision.
Vijayendra criticised the move, which was taken at a recent Cabinet meeting, and said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar should take a cue from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who he said favours following the Centre's practice of singing all six stanzas.
The Congress government in Karnataka has directed that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at State programmes, except those attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor.