Kerala government faces conflicting directives over singing of Vande Mataram

The Kerala state government issued a directive requiring the national song Vande Mataram to be sung in its entirety during Independence Day celebrations, following instructions from the central government. This order mandated that the song be performed after the state anthem or before the national anthem at official functions. The directive was communicated by the Chief Secretary to the local self-government department to ensure compliance with new central guidelines.

Following the issuance of the order, several state ministers and political figures announced that only the first two stanzas of the song would be performed at government events. This shift in position occurred amidst public criticism and allegations that the government was aligning with specific political ideologies. Some leaders argued that the full version of the song does not align with secular values, while others maintained that the state would continue its established practice of singing only the initial stanzas.