Malegaon corp to sing Jana Gana but Vande still out

Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) corporators, who had refused to sing Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram on religious grounds, have climbe...

Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) corporators, who had refused to sing Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram on religious grounds, have climbed down. The 34 corporators have told Municipal Commissioner Harshdeep Kamble in writing they have no problems with the national anthem but won’t sing the national song.

On July 12, the first general body meeting of the newly-established MMC was adjourned when corporators of the Shiv Sena, Republican Party of India (RPI) and the BJP demanded that work begin with Vande Mataram and end with the national anthem. Muslim corporators from the JD(S) and the SP took offence saying this violated the Islamic code.

The issue, which rocked the MMC meeting on July 15 after RPI corporator Bharat Chavan was suspended by Mayor Nihal Ahmed for insisting on singing the national anthem in the House, provoked several organisations in Nashik to demand action against the corporators.

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Mayor Ahmed told The Indian Express he is evolving a consensus among corporators irrespective of their political affiliations. Ahmed said leaders of parties had met on Tuesday.

Even the Maharashtra Legislative Council witnessed noisy scenes and adjournment today on the issue. The House was adjourned for five minutes as Opposition members objected to remarks by Hussain Dalwai (Congress), who said that when the patriotic song inspired people to participate in the freedom struggle some persons were tendering apologies to the British to ‘‘save their skins’’.

Pointing to BJP members, Dalwai said they did not hoist the national tricolour at their offices on the Republic and Independence Day. Sena-BJP members reacted strongly against this allegation and raised slogans against Dalwai, forcing Chairman N.S. Pharande to adjourn the House for five minutes.

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