State Cong to host mass singing of Vande Mataram on Sep 7

Mumbai, Sep 4 (UNI) Maharashtra Congress has organised mass singing of ''Vande Mataram'' on September 7 to mark the centenary of the national song.

Party spokesman Hussain Dalwai said Seva Dal activists will participate in the flag hoisting function which will be attended by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, State Congress president Prabha Rau and AICC general secretary Margaret Alva at the party office in Tilak Bhavan.

Mr Dalwai said ''Vande Mataram'' is the national song which has been inspired by the freedom struggle. ''The current controversy over the song is an attempt by fundamentalists from both communities to drive a wedge between the people. Simply translated, ''Vande Mataram'' means ''saluting the motherland'' and it is wrong to say that all Muslims are opposed to reciting the song, he added.

Replying to a question on the Rajya Sabha by-election, Mr Dalwai said the State Congress had conveyed to the Central leadership on the need to stake claim for the vacant seat. ''But, the Central leadership has not responded so far. We will abide by the High Command's decision,'' he said.

Significantly, only two hours later, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told a press conference that the Congress had supported Ms Supriya Sule's candidature for the by-election.

Mr Patel denied that the Congress had supported Ms Sule's candidature on any pre-condition. ''We have agreed to work as per the coalition principles,'' he said.

Mr Dalwai, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the NCP will co-operate with the Congress in the by-elections to Legislative Assembly where Shiv Sena MLAs had vacated their seats to join the Congress.

UNI MR MAZ RL PM2031