Vande Mataram row: Congress stand has always been clear, says Karnataka CM Shivakumar
Bengaluru: In the wake of the controversy over the Karnataka government restricting the playing of ‘Vande Mataram’ to two stanzas at state events, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said the Congress has always respected the national song, the national flag, the national anthem, independence, democracy, and the Constitution, asserting that the party’s position on the national song has been clear for a long time.
Talking to reporters at Aranya Bhavan, Shivakumar said the Congress had played a role in upholding the values associated with the country’s freedom struggle and democratic institutions.
“Vande Mataram is my party’s stand, which we have been following for a long time. They are trying to do their politics. We respect it. We brought Vande Mataram. We brought the national flag. We brought the national anthem. We brought independence. We brought democracy. We brought the Constitution,” he said.
He said the Congress’ position on Vande Mataram was not new and that the party respected all national symbols and constitutional values.
On the Kasturirangan report, Shivakumar said the government would consult farmers before taking a final decision on the issue. He said he would visit three or four districts after his Mangaluru visit and meet farmers to hear their views.
“I will meet the farmers, and then on September 21, 22, and 23, we have a special session only for farmers’ issues, road issues and the report. We will discuss it because we have lost the opportunity. I want all MLAs to speak up and give their views in the interest of the public and the farmers of the state,” he said.
The Karnataka government has convened a three-day special session of the legislature from September 21 to 23 to discuss the Kasturirangan report and related issues.
On his visit to PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi amid the Enforcement Directorate searches linked to him, Shivakumar defended his colleague, saying Jarkiholi had not committed any wrongdoing.
“Jarkiholi is my colleague. He has not done anything wrong. They are conducting their business within the framework of the law. How can they say they should not go outside or should not do business outside? I know that they were doing,” he said.
Shivakumar alleged that the investigation agencies were selectively targeting Congress leaders.
“I know that they are planning to target three or four people as well. They are trying to trap the entire Congress and the opposition parties. Whoever from the BJP went outside or transferred money is not being targeted. They are doing it only with people from our party,” he alleged.
Defending the decision to set a deadline for the surrender of illegal firearms, Shivakumar referred to former Chief Minister, late Ramakrishna Hegde, who had during his tenure called upon people to surrender illegal firearms and weapons to the government.
“Following this, thousands of people came forward and surrendered them to the government,” he said.