"Vande Mataram" optional objectionable: Kalraj Mishra

Jaipur, Aug 31 (UNI) Senior BJP leader and party in-charge of Rajasthan Kalraj Mishra today alleged that the dilution of the directive of the Union Human Resource Development ministry on singing of the ''Vande Mataram'' as optional was 'highly objectionable'.

Reacting to the comment of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya here today that the singing of the song be left to the discreation of the people, Mr Mishra, while addressing a press conference here said, the singing of 'Vande Mataram' and national anthem could not be optional but compulsory. He said if 'Vande Mataram' is just a patriotic song like any other why did the central government decide to celebrate its centenary year.

He said the HRD ministry's first circular had directed that the singing of the song was compulsory in all schools but the UPA government diluted the directive later to appease a particular community.

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