Decision to use first two stanzas of Vande Mataram was not of Nehru alone: Kharge
New Delhi (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday accused BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of insulting Jawaharlal Nehru, as he said the decision to use only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' as the national song was collectively taken by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore.
As the ruling BJP accused the Congress of 'dividing' the song written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Kharge countered the ruling party, saying that Congress leaders have always been chanting 'Vande Mataram'.
Speaking just after Home Minister Amit Shah attacked Congress, alleging that the politics of appeasement was behind the decision to use only two stanzas of the poem as the national song, Kharge started his address, raising the slogan 'Vande Mataram'.
"We have always been singing Vande Mataram. But those who did not sing Vande Mataram have also started singing it now. It is the power of Vande Mataram. It is a national festival, not a debate.
"When the non-cooperation movement was started in 1921, Congress members were going to jail chanting Vande Mataram... What were you doing? You were working for the British," Kharge said.
"You are teaching patriotism to us? You were scared of patriotism and were serving the British. PM Modi leaves no opportunity to insult Jawaharlal Nehru, nor does the Home Minister... I heard the Prime Minister blamed Nehru for stanzas being removed..."
Kharge said the resolution to sing only two stanzas of the poem, which was passed by the Congress working committee, was not done by Nehru alone, and leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Madan Mohan Malaviya, and Acharya JB Kripalani were present.
The Congress president also quoted Tagore, who said he found "no difficulty" in dissociating the first two stanzas of the poem with the rest of the song.
"You are insulting all these tall leaders. It was their combined decision. Why do you target Nehruji alone?" he said.
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BJP MLA caught by Lokayukta while accepting Rs 5 lakh bribe
Gadag (Karnataka) (PTI): Lokayukta police on Saturday said they caught BJP MLA Chandru Lamani allegedly accepting a Rs 5 lakh bribe.
The trap was laid by the Gadag Lokayukta police based on a complaint filed by a contractor.
“Today, a successful trap was laid by the Gadag Lokayukta police station. The accused public servant was caught while accepting Rs 5 lakh,” officials said, adding case has been registered under Section 7(a) read with 7(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The complainant, Vijay Pujar, is a Class-I contractor from Chinchali in this district.
Lokayukta officials said the alleged bribe demand was linked to works under the Minor Irrigation Department, including the construction of retaining walls along a road.
“The accused had demanded Rs 11 lakh from the complainant to execute the work. During the trap, Rs 5 lakh was accepted,” officials said.
Along with the MLA, who represents the Shirahatti Assembly constituency, his personal assistants — Manjunath Valmiki and Guru Naik — have also been secured in connection with the case.
“Accused 1, 2 and 3 have been secured, and the investigation is in progress,” the Lokayukta said in a statement.
Reacting to the incident, in a sarcastic remark, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said, “BJP leaders are very honest. They are corruption-free in this country. The Lokayukta might have received some wrong information.”
He added, “Let us see what the Lokayukta says. I will react after that.”
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, said he was not aware of the details and that his party does not tolerate bribery, adding that he would comment after gathering full information, while state BJP president B Y Vijayendra said he “would respond after ascertaining the facts.”
Meanwhile, supporters of Lamani condemned the Lokayukta action, alleging that the Congress government was behind the “conspiracy”.
They also raised slogans against the Congress government.
