For second day in row, ruckus over Vande Mataram mars Himachal monsoon session

The matter was raised by Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur through a Point of Order after Question Hour. Thakur demanded that the Assembly release the CCTV recording of Friday’s proceedings, particularly the portion showing the rendition of the National Anthem. He said the footage would settle the allegation made against BJP members.

“If the allegations do not prove, the Chief Minister should apologise in and outside the House,” Thakur said.

Sukhu, who is also the Leader of the House, defended the Congress’s stand and maintained that BJP members had disrespected the National Anthem. The exchange quickly escalated, with members from both sides raising slogans, forcing Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania to adjourn the House till 2 pm.

When the House reassembled, the Opposition again raised the demand for the CCTV footage and insisted that the video should be examined before any conclusion was drawn.

“But after lunch when we assembled in the House, the CM started talking on issues which were not taken by the Opposition and avoided speaking on our demand that CCTV footage of yesterday’s proceedings be released,” he said.

Thakur further alleged that the ruling party was responsible for the disruption after lunch. “It was the CM who left the House after lunch indicating that he was not interested to continue with the House proceedings. Slogans inside the House were also raised by the members of treasury benches not by the opposition,” he said.

The BJP members subsequently staged a protest outside the office of the Speaker, reiterating their demand for the footage. Thakur said they have formally requested the Assembly Secretariat to provide the video recording of the August 21 proceedings. He said the Speaker had assured him that a ruling on the demand would be given on Monday.

Thakur also said that if the footage was not provided, the opposition would take the matter to the Governor and was prepared to approach the High Court.

The BJP’s demand came amid a broader dispute over the singing of Vande Mataram. Thakur raised the issue of the National Song in the House and referred to its rendition at a Congress Working Committee meeting in Delhi earlier this week. He also alleged that Vande Mataram had been “disrespected” during a Congress event and referred to the party’s 1937 resolution on the National Song. He maintained that the BJP would not accept the CWC’s position on the rendition of Vande Mataram as a basis for running the Assembly.

The Congress rejected the BJP’s allegations and accused it of attempting to turn the Assembly into a political arena.

Sukhu defended the Congress protest against the BJP and reiterated his allegation that BJP legislators had disrespected the National Anthem on Friday. He alleged that on Friday, BJP MLAs had raised their hands before the National Anthem concluded, which tantamount to an “insult” of the Jan Gana Mana.

He said the Congress had a long association with the country’s freedom struggle and the National Anthem and National Song. “Congress and its workers have made a lot of sacrifices. National Song is not of any particular religion, caste, party, creed and class. It is for the entire country,” Sukhu said.

He added, “There are many issues and platforms for the politics and BJP leaders should avoid doing politics on the issue of National Song and National Anthem.”

He also accused BJP members of indulging in “theatrics” and recalled an incident during last year’s monsoon disaster when BJP workers in Seraj allegedly threw shoes at the vehicle of Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, which was carrying the Tricolour. Sukhu described the incident as a “grave insult” to the National Flag.

Thakur, meanwhile, maintained that the BJP MLAs had raised the issue of Vande Mataram only after the National Anthem had been completed.

As the standoff continued and sloganeering and heated exchange continued, the Speaker finally adjourned the House till Monday.