AASU opts out of 'Vande Mataram' controversy

Guwahati, Sep 6 (UNI) The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) today refused to be dragged into the 'Vande Mataram' controversy.

Talking to newsmen here, AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya said the students' body would not get involved in the controversy.

He said there were more urgent and pressing problems in the state, for AASU to concentrate on rather than ensuring singing of the 'Vande Mataram'.

''We leave this issue to the likes of Tarun Gogoi, Arjun Singh, L K Advani and Badruddin Ajmal,'' he added.

The 'Vande Mataram' had faced its share of controversy in Asom after the state government back-tracked on its day-old notification of mandatory singing of the song on September 11 at 1100 hours in all educational institutions a couple of days ago.

While the Congress and the BJP had no qualms about the song, Badruddin Ajmal's Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) had criticised making the singing mandatory.

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