2 hrs ago
Gujarat Congress Divided After MLA Sits During Vande Mataram
A disagreement happened in the Gujarat Assembly during the singing of Vande Mataram.
Imran Khedawala, a Congress lawmaker, stood for the first two stanzas and then sat down.
He said those were the traditional parts he supports.
He did not want to sing the additional stanzas.
The BJP said every lawmaker must follow the Assembly’s rules and remain standing.
BJP members asked the Speaker to consider action against Khedawala.
Congress leaders said his decision was personal rather than an official party position.
The disagreement also showed different views about which parts of the song should be sung at public events.
Congress MLA Imran Khedawala sat down after the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram were sung in the Gujarat Assembly.
Other Congress MLAs present reportedly remained standing until the rendition ended.
The BJP asked Speaker Shankar Chaudhary to take action, saying Assembly protocol had been violated.
Khedawala said he stood for the traditional version but sat during newly added stanzas, calling it his personal and constitutional choice.
Congress Legislative Party leader Tushar Chaudhary said Khedawala’s action was personal and declined to state a broader party position.
- Who
- Congress MLA Imran Khedawala, Gujarat Congress legislators, and BJP leaders were involved.
- What
- Khedawala sat down after the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, prompting the BJP to seek action against him.
- Where
- The Gujarat Legislative Assembly.
- When
- On the first day of the Gujarat Assembly’s monsoon session, Wednesday.
- Why
- The dispute concerned whether members should stand for only the first two stanzas or for all six, and whether Assembly protocol required them to do so.
Congress and Khedawala’s Position
BJP’s Position
Which stanzas should be observed
Congress and Khedawala’s Position
Khedawala said he supports the version traditionally sung for decades, consisting of the first two stanzas, and objected to parts added later.
BJP’s Position
The BJP said singing all six stanzas is now compulsory and that elected members should follow the requirement.
Whether sitting violated rules
Congress and Khedawala’s Position
Khedawala called sitting down his personal constitutional choice and said he had done nothing wrong.
BJP’s Position
The BJP called the act a serious violation of Assembly discipline and requested applicable action.
Congress responsibility
Congress and Khedawala’s Position
Tushar Chaudhary said Khedawala acted personally and that the party would respond if the issue was raised in the Assembly.
BJP’s Position
The BJP demanded that Congress clarify whether it supported Khedawala’s conduct because he is a Congress MLA.
Key facts
- Assembly strength
- The Gujarat Assembly has 182 members.
- Congress representation
- The Congress has 12 MLAs in the House.
- Khedawala’s position
- He said he stood during the first two stanzas and sat during the newly added stanzas.
- BJP demand
- BJP legislators asked Speaker Shankar Chaudhary to take appropriate action.
- Congress response
- CLP leader Tushar Chaudhary described Khedawala’s conduct as his personal stance.
- Congress resolution
- The Congress Working Committee reaffirmed its 1937 position favoring only the first two stanzas at party and national events.
- BJP resolution
- The BJP has resolved that all six stanzas should be sung at national events.
Quotes
Tushar Chaudhary
Congress Legislative Party leader in the Gujarat Assembly
“Our team told the Speaker that Vande Matraram is sung in the Assembly ever since it was formed. The issue is that singing all stanzas of the song is compulsory now…Every elected member of the assembly should sing it.”
indianexpress.com
“It was his (Khedawala’s) personal stance to sit down. You should ask him why he sat down. There is no question of the party’s stand on it.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
Related news
Congress Sticks to Two-Stanza Vande Mataram as BJP Attacks
Congress Two-Stanza Vande Mataram Policy Draws Sharp BJP Attack
Himachal Assembly Adjourns Amid Vande Mataram Singing Dispute
Congress, BJP Clash Over Two-Stanza Vande Mataram Dispute
Congress Faces Unease Over Its Vande Mataram Stand
BJP Protests Vande Mataram Row at Shimla Ridge
BJP Announces Maha Dharna Over Telangana 22A Land Restrictions
Election Commission Defers Tripura Electoral Roll Revision Until November
Nitin Nabin leads BJP outreach ahead of Uttarakhand elections
Bandi Sanjay Predicts BJP Victory in Next Telangana Elections
Odisha Mining Law Sparks Fresh Centre-State Tussle
