‘Insult to National Song’: BJP Yuva Morcha Protests Across Kerala

The BJP’s youth wing, Yuva Morcha, staged protests across Kerala on Sunday over the non-singing of Vande Mataram at the state’s Independence Day function, burning effigies of Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Yuva Morcha members marched towards Cliff House, the official residence of the Chief Minister, where they burned the effigies amid slogans opposing the government’s alleged stand on the national song.

BJP state general secretary S Suresh, who inaugurated the protest, accused Satheesan of taking a position similar to Jinnah under alleged pressure from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Jamaat-e-Islami. He claimed that Vande Mataram was sung in other Congress-ruled states but was omitted in Kerala because of political pressure from Muslim organisations.

Suresh said Vande Mataram holds an important place in India’s freedom struggle and national consciousness, arguing that any attempt to undermine its significance was unacceptable. He alleged that the controversy reflected what he described as a repetition of the politics associated with Jinnah and the Partition of India.

The BJP leader further claimed that Jinnah had opposed portions of Vande Mataram during the freedom movement, and alleged that the current controversy similarly threatened the song’s historical significance.

Yuva Morcha leaders said they would continue public protests until what they described as the government’s “insult” to Vande Mataram was corrected. The organisation claimed similar demonstrations were held at various locations across Kerala.

BJP state vice president Shone George, city district president Karamana Jayan and Yuva Morcha state president V Manuprasad were among those who participated in the Thiruvananthapuram protest.