Panaji, Aug 17 (PTI) Workers of the BJP’s youth wing attempted to stop the convoy of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who arrived in Goa for a public meeting on Monday, over the alleged “disrespect” towards ‘Vande Mataram during an Independence Day celebration.
BJP Yuva Morcha workers, led by president Tushar Kelkar, staged a protest outside the Goa International Airport at Dabolim during Kharge’s arrival in the coastal state.
Talking to reporters, Kelkar said that they were protesting against Kharge’s “disrespectful behaviour” towards the national song.
He alleged that the Congress had been “anti-national” by not respecting Vande Mataram, demanding that the Opposition party and its president Kharge apologise to the people of the country for their behaviour.
As the protest continued, Kharge left for the public meeting scheduled at Verna, around 10 km from the airport.
Protesters tried to stop the convoy while shouting slogans against the Congress and Kharge. But their attempt was foiled by police personnel.
The BJP has accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge of showing “utter disrespect” towards the national song at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day, a charge the party has denied.
Parliament recently passed a law granting ‘Vande Mataram’ status on par with the national anthem. PTI RPS ARU
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