Vande Mataram programme passes off peacefully in Vadodara

Vadodara, Sep 7 (UNI) Vadodara, considered to be one of the most communally-sensitive cities, today joined the rest of the country in singing the National Song 'Vande Mataram' to mark its centenary.

As per the government's order, functions were held in all the 467 primary, secondary and higher secondary educational institutions across the district and there was no report of boycott of the song by the minority community students.

District education officer N Makwana said the students and teachers of three Muslim schools located in the most sensitive Yakutpura, Nagarwada and Mughalwada areas of the city also organised similar functions and sang the National Song in unison.

In Vadodara central jail, all the 2,262 inmates, including those belonging to the minority community, reportedly sang the 'Vande Mataram' in chorus at the stipulated time without any hesitation.

Jail superintendent K G Bhatti said following the recent controversy over the singing of the national song, they had not made it mandatory. But everybody took part in the programme.

A similar function was held in the premises of the district collectorate here where over 1000 government officials and other employees sang the 'Vande Mataram'.

UNI SS SIB WD VD KN1921