The Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretariat on Tuesday expressed strong criticism over the recitation of the complete rendition of the national song 'Vande Mataram' during the swearing-in ceremony of the new United Democratic Front (UDF) cabinet in Kerala on Monday. In a statement issued on May 19, the party asserted that the decision to present the full version of the song went against the position previously adopted by the Congress Working Committee (CWC) itself.
Historical Context and CWC Resolution
The CPM pointed out that portions of the song were omitted as part of an official resolution passed by the CWC on October 30, 1937. It noted that the same sections that were removed at that time were included during the ceremony in Kerala. The party also referred to the proceedings of the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950, stating that only the first eight lines of 'Vande Mataram', as accepted in line with the 1937 CWC decision, could be presented as the national song.
Concerns Over Pluralism and Secularism
According to the CPM, certain portions of 'Vande Mataram' reflected the beliefs of only one particular religion, and it was on the basis of preserving the inclusiveness of a plural society that those sections were excluded earlier. The statement alleged that the swearing-in ceremony included even those portions that were previously removed. The party further said that even after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in West Bengal, the full version of the song was not presented during swearing-in ceremonies there. 'The same song that was not rendered there has now been presented in Kerala,' the statement said.
The CPM emphasized that no action that could weaken the pluralistic character of society should come from the government. It added that at a time when attempts to divide people on communal lines were becoming more active, no step that could undermine secularism should be taken by anyone.
