Rajesh Kumar Sethi raises concern over Vande Mataram recitation directive

DIMAPUR — Rajesh Kumar Sethi, National Coordinator of the AICC Minority Department and in charge of Manipur, has raised concerns over the recent directive of the Centre reportedly making the recitation of the full six stanzas of Vande Mataram mandatory in schools and government functions before the National Anthem.

In a press release, Sethi stated that this development raises important constitutional and social concerns, particularly for a diverse and sensitive region like the Northeast and Nagaland.

He stated that India is a secular republic built on the principles of unity in diversity. When the Constituent Assembly deliberated on the issue, it was clearly understood that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram would be used in official functions because the later stanzas contain devotional references to Hindu goddesses.

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Sethi noted that such actions risk creating unnecessary divisions and tensions, especially in the Northeast, where social harmony and political sensitivities require careful and respectful engagement.

At a time when the country faces serious challenges like rising prices, economic distress, unemployment, and unresolved issues affecting states like Nagaland and Manipur, it is unfortunate that the national discourse is being diverted towards symbolic controversies instead of addressing the real concerns of citizens, he observed.

Sethi reiterated that Vande Mataram is a historic song of India’s freedom movement and deserves respect. However, the constitutional understanding that only the first two stanzas are used in official functions must be honoured.

Any attempt to make the entire composition compulsory should be reconsidered in the larger interest of national unity and constitutional propriety, he appealed.