Muraleedharan says Kerala will continue singing only the first two couplets of Vande Mataram at state government events.
Thiruvananthapuram/Kasaragod: Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan and Congress MP Rajmohan Unnithan on Sunday said the full version of Vande Mataram would not be sung at Kerala government programmes.
Muraleedharan said the state would continue its existing practice of singing only the first two couplets of the national song at government functions.
Also Read
“In all state government programmes, only the first two couplets were sung in the past, and that practice will continue even now,” he told reporters.
Unnithan also rejected the possibility of a full rendition of Vande Mataram in Kerala.
Speaking to a television channel, he said he was unaware of any direction from the Chief Secretary regarding the complete rendition but insisted that Kerala would continue with its existing practice.
He said the full version would not be sung in Kerala “in this lifetime” and asserted that the song would continue to be rendered in the manner followed so far.
Muraleedharan says Kerala will follow its own protocol
Muraleedharan said the Chief Secretary was duty-bound to issue circulars based on directions from the Centre.
However, he maintained that Kerala would continue to follow its existing protocol at state government events.
“Kerala will not accept it. We will continue with our earlier system. We will follow the same old protocol in all state government events or programmes. Only the first two couplets will be sung,” he said.
The minister said the full rendition of the national song had taken place during the oath-taking ceremony because the Governor was present.
He added that central government protocol is followed at programmes attended by the Governor.
“But central government protocol will not be followed in any Kerala government programmes. Instead, our protocol will be followed,” Muraleedharan said.
Why has the issue come up now?
The statements came in response to an August 6 letter issued by Kerala Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha regarding the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, which will be observed from August 9 to 17.
The letter said the 2026 edition of the campaign, launched in 2022 under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, had been integrated with the third phase of the nationwide commemoration marking 150 years of the National Song Vande Mataram.
The integration was approved by the National Implementation Committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, according to the letter.
What does the Chief Secretary's letter say?
The letter stated that physical celebrations during the campaign would include collective singing of Vande Mataram along with the hoisting or display of the National Flag.
Digital participation would be routed through the Har Ghar Tiranga portal, where citizens could upload their “Selfie with Tricolour”.
The letter, issued following a communication from the Union Ministry of Culture, also said that the Government of India's instructions regarding the rendition of Vande Mataram would be followed in full.
CPM opposes full rendition
The opposition CPM has also criticised the Chief Secretary’s letter directing the full rendition of the national song.
The party demanded that the direction be withdrawn and alleged that the state government was yielding to what it described as the RSS agenda.
Published: 09 Aug 2026, 05:53 pm IST
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Related Topics
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.