BJP Secretary hits out at IUML's opposition to Vande Mataram

Chennai, Sep 3 (UNI) Former Union Minister and BJP All India Secretary Bandaru Dattatreya today strongly criticised the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) following the row over singing of Vande Mataram and said the party should remove the word "Indian" from its name if it continues to agitate against the song that spurs patriotic fervour.

Talking to reporters here, he demanded stringent punishment against those opposed to reciting the song on its centenary celebrations on September 7.

Pointing out that Vande Mataram was a soulful song, he said the BJP members would sing it in all their ' district headquarters on that day.

Mr Dattatreya said the elections to the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP would be held this month and the party president would be elected on September 22 by the State council members in Chennai.

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