Shillong, Mar 20 (PTI) The influential Khasi Students’ Union in Meghalaya has threatened to stage protests at schools and government functions where the full version of Vande Mataram is sung, alleging that its later stanzas invoke Hindu deities and contradict indigenous tribal traditions.
The union said it would mobilise its members to identify such instances and organise demonstrations, maintaining that only the first two stanzas of the song refer to the motherland, while later verses contain religious references.
The announcement was made during an event marking 48 years of the organisation, where KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah said the move was necessary to resist what he described as cultural assimilation.
“If we allow them to direct us to sing, one day we will have to toe their line,” he said, linking the issue to earlier concerns over the alleged imposition of Hindi and to legislations such as CAA and the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngnar said the union remains committed to safeguarding indigenous identity and unity.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the singing of all six stanzas of the National Song Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. The order dated January 28 also said that when the National Song and the National Anthem are sung or played, the National Song will be sung or played first. PTI JOP SOM
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