The opening day of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly’s Monsoon Session faced an abrupt shutdown, adjourning within 10 minutes following intense political confrontation between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP over the protocol for singing Vande Mataram.
Key Points of the Dispute
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The Trigger: Proceedings commenced with the rendering of the National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana). The BJP opposition immediately demanded that the National Song (Vande Mataram) also be recited at the start of the session.
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Speaker’s Clarification: Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania denied the immediate demand, citing legislative procedural rules. He clarified that standard legislative protocol—followed across multiple state assemblies and Parliament—dictates singing the National Anthem at the commencement of a session and the National Song at its conclusion.
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House Uproar & Adjournment: Unsatisfied with the Speaker’s ruling, BJP members staged protests and raised slogans inside the House, prompting the Speaker to adjourn proceedings until Saturday morning.
Statements from Political Leadership
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Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (Congress): Accused the BJP of politicizing Assembly traditions and disrespecting obituary references planned for the session. Sukhu reiterated that the Congress respects both national symbols and noted that neither the Chair nor the government refused to sing Vande Mataram, but insisted on following established parliamentary rules.
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Vipin Singh Parmar (BJP MLA): Accused the ruling party of disrespecting Vande Mataram. Referring to the broader national controversy regarding CWC guidelines on the song’s stanzas, Parmar asserted that state assembly functions must honor national sentiments rather than party-line decisions.
