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Round
The States
New Delhi, 14
February 2026
VandeMataram Directive
STIRRING
UP HORNET’S NEST?
By Insaf
The Union Home
Ministry’s revised directive to all States that all six stanzas of the National
Song VandeMataram,be sung before the national anthem Jana Gana Manaat
government events and schools has sparked significant political and religious
debate across various states. So far, some opposition parties and Muslim
bodies are opposing it as an “attack on religious freedom”. In West Bengal, TMC
leaders accuse the Centre of “rewriting history” for electoral gains, while the
state BJP welcomes it as a long-overdue honour for the state’s literary icon,
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. In UP, the opposition SP called the order as an
attempt to impose a specific cultural narrative and distracting from issues
like employment and economy.Recall, in Rajasthan tensions had escalated with
BJP government mandating it be sung in madrasas, with protests from Muslim
organisations. On Thursday, JamiatUlama-i-Hind described the directive as ‘unilateral’
and ‘arbitrary’ and alleged it’s a ‘blatant attack’ on the freedom of religion
guaranteed by the Constitution.The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board said that
following Tagore’s advice and deliberations in the Constituent Assembly, it had
been agreed that only the first two stanzas of VandeMataram would
be used. A secular government can’t impose the beliefs of one religion on
followers of others, it added, saying the songwas written in the context of
Bengal and includes references to worship of Durga and other deities. The CPM noted
that the non-inclusion of the four stanzas by the Constituent Assembly was
because it felt ‘it did not resonate with the secular character of the Indian
Republic. The BJP-led Union government is attempting to create an unnecessary
controversy with ulterior motives.’ One perhaps could be the impending Bengal
elections. Or should one say the only motive?
* *
TN Poll Preparations
The poll bugle being sounded
in Tamil Nadu, ruling DMK-ledSecular Progressive Alliance (SPA) and Chief
Minister Stalin has got into top gear. On Friday, the government announced depositing
Rs 5,000 each to 1.31 crore women beneficiaries as part of its women
entitlement scheme. The amount includes financial aid for three months and extra
funds for summer expenses.Perhaps there will be more sops as women votershave
changed victory dynamics. Additionally, Stalin seeks to placate allies. On
Wednesday, he asserted the alliance with Congress was ‘intact,’ in the backdrop
of press reports claiming strained ties. However, he firmly ruled out ‘power-sharing’,
a demand voiced by Congress MPsaying it was up to people to decide whether it
was single party or coalition government.Actor Vijay and his TVK, which is
going solo so far, promptly takes a swipe: allies being denied cabinet
representation was against ‘social justice’ as they play a key role in victory.The
Assembly has 234 seats and any alliance, or party would need at least 118 seats
to form a government. Permutations, combinations and freebies will play a
key role. Keep watching as drama unfolds.
* * Maharashtra Mayors
The mayors’ post in
Maharashtra has caused jubilation is one camp and dismay and bickeringin
another. The BJP and Shiv Sena alliance secured the Mumbai Mayor’s post after a
gap of 44 years. With a majority in the BMC, Ritu Tawde became its 78th Mayor,
the second BJP corporator to occupy the prestigious post,ending the Thackeray
family’s dominance in Mumbai’s politics and Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Ghadiwas elected
deputy mayor. Both were elected unopposed as Shiv Sena (UBT) and other
opposition parties didn’t field any candidate. Unlike this smooth sailing, the Chandrapur
mayoral elections have raised a stink. The BJP won the seat surprisingly by a
single vote defeating the Congress candidate, despite the grand old party
having the most seats and Sena-UBT won deputy mayor post.It turns out SS-UBT
supported BJP, prompting a livid Congress to question their allies’ betrayal. The
SS-UBT in turn blames internal divisions within Congress for the loss and mess.The
bitter war of words has put a big question mark about the stability and viability
of the MVA. Tempers need to calm down before more damage is done.
* *
Trade Unions’ Strike
The nationwide strike
called by 10 central trade unions on Thursday against the four new labour codes
and VB-G RAM G Act saw limited participation overall. Notably, normal life was
hit in Kerala (government declared a dies-non--a day i.e. when no legal business
is carried on) and Odisha, as public transport was disrupted and public
facilities like markets closed; Jharkhand’s banking, insurance, and coal
sectors were hit; some banks closed in Chhattisgarh; Tamil Nadu port operations
slowed; Punjab’s ruling party AAP supported farmers and workers; and Madhya
Pradesh saw delayed attendance in defence establishments. Surprisingly, in West
Bengal, normal operations continuedas vehicles plied and state government and
private offices recorded usual turnout. At its end, the Centre sent a terse
message to the protestors– it tabled and got passed the Industrial Relations
Code (Amendment) Bill in both Houses of Parliament! While Labour Minister MansukhMandaviya
said the four codes would protect workers’ interests, the Opposition MPs
opposed his claim asserting the bill is ‘anti-worker as it snatched basic
rights, won after several decades of struggle’. Time will tell who is right.
* *
Two Villages’ Tale
It’s a tale of two
villages in the 21st Century. One, which should make our heads hang
in shame. The leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress President
Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday raised during Zero Hour ‘boycott’ of an
anganwadi centre in Ghadiamal village, Odisha’s Kendrapara district, after a
Dalit woman was appointed cook-cum-helper.District officials were forced to visitthe
village forprobe and asked residents to stop the boycott. The incident puts
sharp focus on ‘caste-based prejudices’ among majority community against SCs,
said Kharge and added ‘this would not have happened if government had taken
timely actions in such incidents in the past.’ These include: ‘a man urinating
on a tribal in Madhya Pradesh, a Dalit employee in Gujarat committing suicide
because of caste-based exploitation at workplace and linking of an IPS
officer’s suicide in Chandigarh to caste bias.’ Such behaviour, he asserted is
a clear violation of Articles 14, 15 and 17.
On the other hand, in
Saundala, Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district,the gramsabhaon Thursday passed a
resolution declaring the village as ‘caste-free’to eliminate discrimination,
untouchability and social injustice. On February 5, the gram panchayat discussed
creating ‘a humanitarian social system based on principles of equality,
brotherhood and social justice as enshrined in Constitution’.Its resolution read:
there’ll be ‘no discrimination on basis of caste, religion, creed or lineage
and all residents will be treated as equal. All public places and facilities,
including government services, water sources, temples, cremation grounds,
schools and social functions, will remain open to all residents without
discrimination.’Plus, no villager would post or promote any content leading to
untouchability, social boycott or social injustice, else action would be taken.
As per National Crime Records Bureaurecords stated in parliament, 50,900,
57,582 and 57,789cases during 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively were filed under
crimes/atrocities against SCs. Not enough. Need a national campaign: ‘My caste
– Human’.---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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