CPI(M) Slams UDF: 'Surrendered to BJP' Over Vande Mataram Order!
CPI(M) Slams UDF: 'Surrendered to BJP' Over Vande Mataram Order!
Major political showdown in Kerala! CPI(M) accuses the UDF government of bowing to the BJP over the Vande Mataram directive. Education Minister's defense sparks controversy. Dive into the full story!
The CPI(M) has launched a strong attack on the UDF government, accusing it of "surrendering to the BJP" over the contentious 'Vande Mataram' order. This accusation stems from General Education Minister Shamsudheen's defence of the State government's decision to implement Governor Rajendra Arlekar's directive, which mandates the singing of the full version of 'Vande Mataram' during Independence Day celebrations.
K.V. Abdul Khader, secretary of the CPI(M) Thrissur district committee, issued a statement claiming the Minister's remarks, that the State could not disregard the Raj Bhavan's directive, amount to an admission of the UDF government's unquestioning acceptance of the Governor's positions. According to Khader, this unequivocally proves that the UDF government has capitulated to the BJP's agenda.
The CPI(M) further argued that the Governor, being a political nominee of the BJP-led Union government, is actively promoting the Centre's agenda. They view the State government's official order, based on this directive, as a significant shift in its political stance. The party criticized the Chief Minister and his Cabinet for choosing not to confront the Raj Bhavan, instead implementing every directive issued by the Governor.
Drawing a stark comparison, Mr. Khader highlighted that the previous LDF administration, under Pinarayi Vijayan, consistently resisted what it termed the Governor's "pro-BJP positions." In contrast, the current UDF government has adopted a stand that the Governor's directions cannot be overlooked. The CPI(M) went as far as to suggest that if the government truly believes it cannot refuse the Governor’s directives, it would be better to hand over the administration to the Governor entirely. They described the Minister's remarks as "deceptive" and a betrayal of the government's stated position.
Adding another layer to the controversy, despite initial strong defence, the UDF government appears to be reconsidering its stance. While the Chief Minister’s office has yet to issue an official clarification or withdraw the directive, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has indicated that only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' will be sung in the State government’s programmes, suggesting a potential walk-back from the initial directive for the full version. This evolving situation continues to fuel political debate and scrutiny within the state.
