Kasaragod: Keralam Health Minister K Muraleedharan has defended his decision to sit down before the full rendition of Vande Mataram ended at an official function, saying he would not allow anyone to “hijack” a state government event.
The incident took place on Monday during the inauguration of a laboratory at the Mulleria Family Health Centre in Kasaragod. The minister’s action drew criticism from the BJP, which demanded an apology.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Muraleedharan said the programme schedule had included a prayer, but Vande Mataram was sung instead. He maintained that the state government’s policy was to sing only the first two stanzas at its functions.
“I do not need anyone to teach me patriotism. I am the son of a freedom fighter,” he said, referring to his father, former Keralam Chief Minister K Karunakaran.
The minister said he would follow the protocol at Central government events and respect the policies of local bodies when attending their programmes. However, he said an attempt to impose a different protocol on a state government function would not be accepted.
“If the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is holding an event, it has its own policy on how to conduct it, and I will abide by that as it is their internal matter. But, if a state government programme is sought to be hijacked, it will not be accepted,” he said.
Visuals of the event showed Muraleedharan, Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan, MLA K Mahin and District Collector Sreedhanya Suresh sitting down after the first two stanzas, while the song continued. MLA K Neelakandan and District Congress Committee president P K Faisal remained standing until the rendition ended.
The BJP criticised those who sat down and demanded an apology, arguing that the national song should have been respected until its completion.
The event has also drawn attention to the distinction between the state government’s stated protocol and the role of the local panchayat in organising the programme. The health centre is a government facility, while the function was held in Karadka panchayat, which is governed by the BJP.
The controversy comes amid a wider debate over the Centre’s directive on singing the full version of Vande Mataram at official functions. The Congress has maintained that the first two stanzas are sufficient.
(With inputs from media reports)