Fracas over Vande Mataram

S.N. Channabasappa, Shivamogga MLA, of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) objected to the rendition of the national song Vande Mataram being limited to its first two stanzas at a public meeting attended by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at Tirthahalli in Shivamogga district on Saturday.

Two stanzas of the national song were presented at the beginning of the programme, followed by the State anthem. That was when Mr. Channabasappa intervened to say that the national song should not have been cut short. He appealed to the Chief Minister to ensure that the song was rendered in full.

A large section of the audience raised their voices against the MLA’s intervention. A few Congress leaders on the dais also intervened to oppose him.