Political tussle over 'Vande Mataram' sparks debate on central directives in Kerala

The omission of "Vande Mataram" from Kerala's Independence Day ceremony has ignited a political firestorm. While the Ministry of Culture's circular called for the collective rendition of the song during the "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign, the state's General Administration Department issued a separate circular that made no reference to the national song. This divergence has led to accusations that the state government is yielding to pressure from minority political outfits, namely the Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami. Rajiv Chandrashekhar, the BJP state president, argued that the decision reflects the growing sway of these groups over the administration. He also pointed out that other states, including Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, complied with the central directive without protest, raising questions about Kerala's selective adherence.