New Delhi, September 10
Admitting that a mistake had been made in fixing September 7 as the date of commemorative function on Vande Mataram, the Congress today criticised the BJP for its attempts to derive political mileage from the controversy over government circular on voluntary singing of the national song on that day.
Replying to queries from mediapersons, Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi said party worker Shashi Bhushan had admitted the mistake of writing a letter suggesting that September 7 should be observed as centenary of singing of Vande Mataram. He, however, did not comment on the role of the HRD Ministry that fixed September 7 as the commemorative date on the basis of the letter.
Mr Dwivedi said there was nothing to establish a historical link between the origin of the song and September 7.
Coming down on the BJP for criticising Congress President Sonia Gandhi for her “absence” from a function organised by the Congress Seva Dal on September 7, Mr Dwivedi said the national song was part of the Congress culture for over a century.
Pointing out that Ms Gandhi was not invited to every function held by the Seva Dal, he said she had not been invited for the function. “A function was held by the Seva Dal that day as it had been decided to pay respect to the national song all over the country. The Seva Dal organises all such functions,” he said.
Questioning BJP’s credibility to criticise the Congress on singing Vande Matram, the general secretary wondered why the national song was not sung in RSS shakhas. Vande Mataram, he said, was sung regularly at various Congress functions.
Mr Dwivedi denied that the decision to hold CWC meeting today to commemorate centenary of Satyagraha had been taken in the wake of attempts by the BJP to get a high moral plane on patriotism and tarnish the image of Congress leadership. “There is no link. The decision on CWC meeting was taken several weeks back,” he said.
