Digvijay urges minority leader not to object to 'Vande Matram

Guwahati, Sep 2 (UNI) Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh today criticised the fundamentalist parties in Asom for ''fanning communal tension'' over singing of ''Vande Mataram''.

Addressing newsmen here, Mr Singh asked the minority leaders of the state to refrain from creating a controversy over the national song, just as the BJP was doing at the national level.

'' Mr Ajmal (AUDF president) and others should not try to create controversy over the Vande Mataram. '' The Congress-led state government yesterday issued a notification, making the singing of ''Vande Mataram'' compulsory on September 7 in all educational institutions.

Mr Singh, winding up his three-day visit to the state, said he was here on specific instruction of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to review the drought-like condition in the state.

Expressing satisfaction at the relief work, he said all support would be provided by the Centre to face the situation.

UNI SG SJC VD PC1740