B’luru: Actor Kishore Kumar criticises political use of ‘Vande Mataram’, says slogan being misused
Bengaluru: Pan India Actor Kishore Kumar has criticised what he calls an attempt to use the national song Vande Mataram for political gain by dividing people on religious lines.
On Thursday, he posted on Facebook a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking in the Lok Sabha, with the caption ‘Jai Shri Ram to Vande Mataram.’ In his post, Kishore said the song, which once energised the freedom movement and united people across India, was now being turned into a tool for political advantage.
ALSO READ: Bangladesh to vote on February 12, first poll after PM Hasina's ouster
He wrote that expressions once used to welcome others with love were being taken over and converted into war cries and weapons of hatred, especially against Muslims. Just as this shift happened, he said, those in power who had no role in the freedom struggle and had no hesitation in selling what true patriots created, were now trying to appropriate a song used by freedom fighters.
Kishore also said many serious issues such as the falling value of the rupee, the state of the economy, weakening democratic institutions, what he called false GDP claims, unfulfilled promises to farmers, healthcare challenges, unemployment, situations in Manipur and Ladakh, and the arrests of scientists and scholars were being ignored.
According to him, the government had shown that it was unable to deal with real problems. He said their only approach now was to divide people and distract them, expressing his frustration over the current political climate.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
K’taka cabinet approves cricket matches at M. Chinnaswamy stadium: Reports
Belagavi: The state cabinet under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly given its nod to permit cricket matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, subject to certain conditions.
The decision is learnt to have been taken after a meeting held at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here on Thursday.
Reports indicate that Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara has been directed to formulate rules along with a referendum to hold a cricket match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The cabinet’s approval comes subject to conditions, considering the report of Justice D’Cunha, which was prepared after the stampede.
The June 4 stampede during the celebrations for RCB’s maiden IPL title killed 11 people, which raised serious questions over the stadium's capability to host large-scale events.
Will RCB be playing at their home ground next year?
Stating that the “state had learned from the tragedy,” Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday, December 08, dismissed the talks about shifting Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home games out of the city.
He also said that the Chinnaswamy Stadium is the “pride of Bengaluru and Karnataka” and vowed that IPL fixtures will continue to be played there.
On Wednesday, Shivakumar met the newly elected KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad at the Circuit House in Belagavi and reiterated that cricket matches, including IPL fixtures, will not be shifted out of Bengaluru.
“We have no intention of stopping matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium, but crowd control measures and the Michael D. Cunha committee’s recommendations will be implemented in phases,” he told reporters.
Shivakumar said the government is committed to promoting cricket and supporting fans while safeguarding the state’s reputation, adding that Prasad had sought the government’s cooperation and agreed to work jointly on the issue.
