Himachal Pradesh: Congress, BJP face motions over national anthem row
The row over alleged insult to the national anthem flared up in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly again on Wednesday, with both the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP announcing that they would move breach of privilege motions against each other.
Amid conflicting claims from both parties, the House briefly witnessed uproarious scenes and commotion, with both sides sloganeering against one another.
The controversy surrounds the Congress’ claim that the BJP had insulted the national anthem Jana Gana Mana on the first day of the Monsoon Session of the Assembly on Friday. When Jana Gana Mana was being sung, BJP MLA Vipin Singh Parmar raised his hand before it concluded to demand that the national song Vande Mataram be sung after it, the Congress had claimed.
The BJP strongly refuted the claim and submitted a letter to the Speaker demanding the video footage of the House when the national anthem was being sung on Friday.
After the Assembly released the video, the BJP demanded an apology from Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for allegedly lying about the incident.
Raising the issue immediately after the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said the chief minister had falsely accused the opposition of insulting the national anthem, a claim disproved in the video provided to the opposition. He alleged that despite this, the ruling party staged protests against the BJP not only within the Assembly complex but also across the state.
Thakur further announced that the BJP would move a breach of privilege motion against the chief minister over this falsehood and would file a criminal defamation suit in the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
However, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reiterated his allegation, stating that raising questions about the national anthem itself constitutes an insult to it.
Amid the commotion, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania clarified that any remarks made by the chief minister outside the House do not form part of the official record.
Sukhu reiterated that the BJP has insulted the national anthem and the Congress would inform people in every corner of the State about this disrespect.
He too announced that the Congress would bring a breach of privilege motion against the BJP leaders.
The chief minister further demanded an apology from the BJP for attempting to create a divide among people in the name of the national anthem and the national song. He remarked that while India’s culture is rooted in humanity, the BJP’s culture has always been one of division.
Pointing out that the national anthem and national song were integral to the Congress ideology even before Independence, Sukhu said the Government would forgive the BJP if it apologises to the people for insulting the national anthem.
On the issue, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said Parmar had raised his hand before the national anthem concluded on the first day of the session, but since the camera was not focused on him, he is taking advantage of the situation.
Claiming that the BJP had insulted the national anthem, Negi questioned how the party could approach the high court after such an act. He remarked that the people of the state have realised that the BJP respects neither the Constitution nor the rules of the Legislative Assembly.
Amid sloganeering by the BJP, Negi further stated that he belonged to a tribal community and the BJP was harassing a tribal MLA. Therefore, a case should be registered against the BJP under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, he said.
Negi also asserted that the BJP’s ideology is detrimental to the country.
