Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated on Monday that residents will require time to adapt to the inclusion of the national song in official functions, a change that has only been implemented this year. Abdullah’s remarks highlight the ongoing adjustments within the region regarding national symbols and practices.
“Congress also gave a clarification from its side. So what is the controversy here? They were sung. It will take us a little time to get used to it. This is the first time that this has been included.
Commenting on the controversy surrounding Congress leaders’ alleged disrespect to Vande Mataram, Abdullah said there should be no controversy as all verses of the national song were sung. It said, look at the video, all three verses of Vande Mataram were sung there. We are also adjusting a little bit,” Abdullah told reporters here.
Abdullah said Independence Day parade on Saturday was the eighth he had attended as the chief minister, but the national song was played for the first time. A complaint filed with the Delhi Police recently sought registration of an FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for alleged obstruction when Vande Mataram was being sung during the party’s Independence Day function at its headquarters in Delhi. “This was my eighth Independence Day parade, but it was for the first time Vande Mataram was included in it. It took me some time to understand that first I will stand up, Vande Mataram will play, then I will unfurl the flag, then the National Anthem will play.
Perhaps Congress also took time to adjust; it happens,” he said. Abdullah refused to comment on PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s post on X in which the former chief minister said she was a “dimaagi naxal” as she supported the restoration of Article 370. On the student protests in Jharkhand, Abdullah said there must be some truth to the protesters’ demands as the government there has held one round of talks with them.
