Thiruvananthapuram, 02 September (H.S.): The full version of Vande Mataram will be sung at official functions in Kerala attended by the President, Prime Minister or Vice-President in accordance with the Union government's protocol, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said on Wednesday.

However, only the first two stanzas of the national song will be rendered at programmes organised independently by the State government and the UDF, he clarified.

Satheesan's statement followed criticism over the full rendition of Vande Mataram at the closing ceremony of the week-long Onam celebrations on August 30. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Governor Rajendra Arlekar attended the event.

The song was also sung in full during a Kerala University programme organised on September 1 to mark National Sports Day. The function was inaugurated by the Chancellor.

Responding to allegations that the UDF government had bowed to the wishes of the BJP-led Centre, Satheesan pointed out that Vande Mataram was not sung during the State-sponsored Independence Day programmes held across Kerala's 14 districts on August 15.

The Chief Minister said a distinction must be made between regular State government events and functions attended by national constitutional authorities.

When the President, Vice-President or Prime Minister attends, the Centre's protocol applies. It requires the song to be rendered in full, and the State government has no authority to reject it, Satheesan said.

He maintained that the UDF's stand remained unchanged and that only two stanzas would be sung at party programmes and other regular government events.

Asked whether the government knew about the protocol before inviting the Vice-President, Satheesan said Kerala would continue inviting the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister to important State functions.

There should be no doubt about that, he said, adding that adherence to official protocol did not signify any change in the UDF's political position.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman