Vande Mataram row in Kerala: Pinarayi says State ‘not obliged to enforce RSS agenda of replacing national anthem’
Kerala's Leader of the Opposition, Pinarayi Vijayan, stated that the state is not required to enforce the RSS agenda of singing Vande Mataram in full at official functions. He emphasized that only the first two stanzas should be sung, aligning with existing conventions. Vijayan also criticized the Congress party for its selective outrage regarding the Enforcement Directorate's actions against opposition leaders.
- ▪Pinarayi Vijayan asserted that Kerala is not obligated to implement the RSS agenda regarding Vande Mataram.
- ▪He noted that only the first two stanzas of the song should be rendered at state functions.
- ▪Vijayan criticized the Congress for celebrating ED raids on opposition figures while protesting against actions taken against its own leaders.
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Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday (May 29, 2026) said “Kerala is under no obligation to implement the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) agenda of singing the national song, Vande Mataram, in its entirety” at State functions. Mr Vijayan told a press conference that the convention required that only the first two stanzas of the song need be rendered at State functions, if at all. He said Kerala should “resist the Sangh Parivar’s divisive gambit to supplant the secular national anthem with Vande Mataram.” Kerala Governor’s policy address lacks suggestions helpful to State, says Pinarayi Vijayan“Rendering of the national anthem requires citizens to rise from their seats and remain standing till the hymn ends. Vande Mataram requires no such gesture.
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