'Vande Matram is a song of national identity'

New Delhi, Aug 30: Union Human Resource Development Minister, who is in the eye of storm over his Vande Matram remarks, today said the song was a symbol of the national identity and it should be spared any controversy.

''Vande Matram rashtriya asmita ka geet hai (Vande Matram is a song of national identity), and the decision regarding its singing on its centenary day was taken at a very high level, but we had given no directive for its compulsory singing, we had just written a letter to states, making a suggestion,'' Mr Singh said when asked about the decision of BJP ruled states to make the singing of the song compulsory.

"It was up to states to act accordingly," he added.

He was talking to reporters here after announcing the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan Awards.

Mr Singh's Ministry had written a letter to Chief Ministers for celebrating the centenary of the song on Sepetmber seven by singing it in schools, but had, later, on protest by some members of the Muslims clergy, said that the singing was not compulsory, which the BJP took up as an issue and directed all its states ruled by it to make the singing of the song compulsory in schools.

When pointed out that the BJP states were taking the letter written by his Ministry as a directive, he said, ''You should then ask the BJP.''

UNI

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