Vande Mataram debate won’t get us anywhere: Telangana Congress chief
“Irrespective of seniority or personality, if someone crosses the line, we will have to act,” says B Mahesh Kumar Goud on internal rifts in the state unit.
Telangana Congress chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud At Telangana’s Independence Day function last weekend, the entire Vande Mataram was sung. It was one of the three Congress-ruled states to do so along with Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. Days later, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) reiterated its 1937 resolution that only the first two stanzas of the song would be sung at party events. This has created a sense of unease in sections of the party.
In an interview, state Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud tells The Indian Express that while the party has its stand on Vande Mataram, it cannot arm-twist the elected government to choose one version or the other. The party, which is battling internal disciplinary issues, is still concentrating on what the common man needs in the country and not on debates over Vande Mataram, Goud says. Excerpts:
* The Congress’ central leadership recently decided to stick to singing two stanzas of Vande Mataram instead of all six. But in Telangana’s Independence Day event, hosted by Congress Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, the national song was sung in full. Why?
Going by the All India Congress Committee’s decision, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee will follow the same rule about Vande Mataram, which was decided by the Congress Working Committee (CWC). But, as far as the government is concerned, what version of Vande Mataram should be sung is entirely up to the Chief Minister and the Cabinet. It is the discretion of the CM which version should be followed. As far as the party is concerned, we will follow the AICC directive.
* Was there a need to get into the Vande Mataram debate given that several party workers and leaders are not comfortable with it?
We have been singing one version of Vande Mataram for the past several decades. So, what is the need for a controversy over this now? Ultimately, everyone has to respect the nation, democracy, and the Constitution. We are all bound to respect them as true Indians. So, this debate over Vande Mataram is not going to get us anywhere.
Our job is to get welfare to the poorest of the poor. That should be our prime agenda and not Vande Mataram. What have we gained in the past 12 years of the (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi government? What did the common man gain? Did they get employment, even as the BJP had promised 2 crore jobs? They are closing public sector institutions one by one. The whole of the government is now in favour of the corporate sector. No common man has gained from this government. Instead of debating what concerns common people, we are debating Vande Mataram.
* The Congress in Telangana is dealing with disciplinary problems. Notices have been served on many leaders. What is happening?
A show-cause notice was issued to state endowments minister Konda Surekha, holding her responsible for her daughter Konda Sushmita’s disparaging remarks against the party and CM Revanth Reddy. Similarly, a show-cause notice was issued to former minister and Telangana state Planning Board vice-chairman G Chinna Reddy for accusing the state Congress leadership of selling tickets in the last assembly elections.
These are senior leaders of the party. We respect them. But irrespective of their seniority or personality, if someone crosses the line, we will have to act. All must fall in line. There are forums in the party to express anguish and opinion, but to speak publicly against party leadership is uncalled for. Hence the disciplinary measures.
* You also suspended another senior leader, Jakkidi Prabhakar Reddy, the father of Telangana Youth Congress president Jakkidi Shivacharan Reddy.
Yes, we suspended him for making personal and caste-related remarks against several party leaders. There is an FIR lodged against him for making casteist remarks against downtrodden sections. The Congress party cannot stand for this sort of behaviour and attitude. We cannot accept such language against any community or caste. After a thorough enquiry, we decided to suspend him. Discipline is of foremost importance.
* The committee also issued show-cause notices to Adilabad Assembly constituency party in-charge Kandi Srinivas Reddy and party leader Sanjay over alleged objectionable remarks made against party leaders during a district Political Affairs Committee meeting in Utnoor. The contention is that the internal party mechanism has collapsed.
The meeting was held to discuss the party structure, strengthening and welfare schemes of the government. To raise personal objections during such an event does not bode well. In this Adilabad incident, we found that two people (Srinivas Reddy and Sanjay) were responsible for the disturbance. So we served disciplinary notices to them. This is meant to keep internal discipline intact.
Share
