Himachal Pradesh Political Row Over 'Vande Mataram' Song Escalates to High Court

Imagine, if the politics over the singing of the national song'Vande Mataram'in the assembly of a state becomes so hot that the matter reaches the threshold of the High Court! This is exactly what is happening in Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. In fact, on Sunday, the historic Ridge Maidan echoed with patriotic slogans and songs like'Rang De Basanti Chola '. BJP legislators and hundreds of workers led by the Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur held a strong counter-demonstration against the Congress government sitting in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. During the sit-in,'Vande Mataram'was sung collectively on the Ridge Maidan. Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur went on the offensive, saying that the heroic revolutionaries of the country had kissed the noose by singing this song. He alleged that there was a mention of Vande Mataram in the assembly proceedings earlier, but later the government removed it.