Hans News Service Bhubaneswar

OdishaChief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday said Vande Mataram was not a “political bargaining chip” but the “soul of Bharat’s freedom struggle”, amid an ongoing row over the national song. Taking to social media, Majhi said the Congress Working Committee’s decision to limit the singing of Vande Mataram to only two stanzas was “deeply disappointing”.

“Vande Mataram is not a political bargaining chip. It is the soul of Bharat’s freedom struggle. The Congress Working Committee’s decision to limit the singing of Vande Mataram to only two stanzas is deeply disappointing. Vande Mataram belongs to the history and spirit of Bharat.” He added that Vande Mataram is not Congress’ political property to edit, dilute or bargain with.

A song that inspired generations of freedom fighters cannot be reduced to vote-bank calculations or political convenience, Majhi said, adding that Vande Mataram will always remain the voice of Bharat. “The nation remembers. The nation has learnt. And the nation will not allow Congress to repeat the same politics again,” he said.

The CWC on Wednesday decided to abide by the 1937 resolution of its highest decision-making body on Vande Mataram, saying only two stanzas of the national song would be sung at all party events henceforth.