- Congress MLA Imran Khedawala sat down during the rendition of Vande Mataram after the first two stanzas, while other Congress MLAs remained standing, sparking controversy on the opening day of the Monsoon session.
- A delegation of BJP ministers and MLAs met Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary and submitted a representation regarding Khedawala's conduct.
- Speaker Chaudhary confirmed receiving the representation and is expected to address the matter on Thursday, potentially bringing the dispute into focus on Day 2 of the three-day session.
- CLP leader Tushar Chaudhary stated that Khedawala's actions were his personal stance, while BJP leaders demanded that Congress clarify its position and called for action as per rules.
- Government spokesperson Jitu Vaghani emphasized that the rendition of 'Vande Mataram' is a long-standing legislative tradition and not a practice introduced by the BJP government.
- Vaghani stated that 'Vande Mataram' should not be treated as a political issue and accused Khedawala of taking a position that could not be considered merely personal due to his status as an elected representative.
- Khedawala defended his actions, stating he stood during the traditional rendition and sat down only during what he described as an additional stanza, reflecting his personal ideological position.
The controversy surrounding Congress MLA Imran Khedawala's actions during the 'Vande Mataram' rendition has escalated, prompting a delegation of BJP ministers to meet Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary.12341011
On the opening day of the Monsoon session, Khedawala sat down after the first two stanzas, while other Congress members remained standing. This act has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which argues that the rendition is a long-standing tradition of the Assembly, not initiated by the current government.
BJP spokesperson Jitu Vaghani emphasized, “Vande Mataram is not a subject of politics. It is a matter of faith, devotion and nationalism for our country,” asserting that Khedawala's actions could not be viewed as merely personal due to his elected status.
Khedawala defended his decision, stating, “I sat down during the rendition of the newly added stanzas of the song... I will always sing the Vande Mataram that was sung by Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, but will not sing the parts added later by the BJP.” He described his stance as a reflection of his personal ideology, distancing himself from the BJP's interpretation of the song.
The BJP has demanded that the Congress clarify its position on Khedawala's conduct, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rushikesh Patel stating, “Every elected member of the assembly should sing it. Today, [the tradition] has been violated.” The matter is expected to be addressed further in the Assembly on the second day of the session, as the Speaker considers the representation submitted by the BJP delegation.
“Khedawala, the only Muslim MLA in the House, said he stood for the traditional rendition but sat during 'newly added stanzas,' and refused to apologize even if ousted. CLP leader Tushar Chaudhary called it a personal stance, while BJP's Jitu Vaghani insisted the tradition predates the BJP government.”
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