Correspondent
The Meghalaya government has taken up concerns regarding the rendition of Vande Mataram at official events with the central government.
“It is a standing order issued by the central government requiring Vande Mataram to be played whenever the Governor is present at an event and this guideline is being followed uniformly across the country,” Sangma said.
He said the State government will continue to adhere to the directive from New Delhi until told otherwise.
The union ministry of home affairs in its order mandating the rendition of the full six-stanza version of Vande Mataram at government 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.
Several groups, including the opposition Voice of the People Party and the Khasi Students’ Union has opposed singing the full version of Vande Mataram, arguing that the later stanzas of the national song invoke Hindu deities and are at odds with indigenous tribal beliefs and traditions.
“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,” VPP legislator Adelbert Nongrum said.