Srinagar, Sep 9: Senior National Conference leader Tanvir Sadiq on Wednesday said respecting Vande Mataram at government functions was a “statutory obligation”, while maintaining that there should be no compulsion on anyone to sing the national song.
Sadiq was responding to criticism over the issue, with the Congress also facing criticism and the BJP alleging that the party had an “anti-Pakistan, pro-Pakistan tendency”.
“National Conference has always had a stated position. We have neither adopted a two-stance nor have we ever adopted a six-stance. We understand that the party is separate and the government is a different thing,” Sadiq said.
He said that once the matter had been accepted by Parliament, it became an obligation for the government to follow it at official functions.
“When it has been accepted in Parliament, then it becomes a statutory obligation of the government that at any government function, whether it is the Vande Mataram song or the anthem, one has to stand and respect it, and that is what we are doing,” Sadiq said.
He pointed to the participation of Congress chief ministers in Karnataka and Telangana in Independence Day events, saying they too had stood through the song.
“If that is the case, before pointing a finger at us, this is a statutory obligation which has become law, and we have to follow that law,” he said.At the same time, Sadiq reiterated the National Conference’s position that no one should be forced to sing Vande Mataram.
“As far as the party’s own position is concerned, we have always said that whoever wants to sing Vande Mataram should absolutely sing it, but there should be no force or compulsion on anyone who does not want to sing it,” he said.
On reports that only around Rs 2,400 crore out of an allocation of nearly Rs 10,000-11,000 crore under the Jammu and Kashmir UT budget had been utilised, with around Rs 8,000 crore still pending, Sadiq said he did not have information about the figures.
“Off hand, I do not know about this. The Finance Department would know about it because you have shared this matter with us. Let us bring some information on it and see what the reality is, because a lot of rumours are spreading these days. It is better that we bring some input first and then share it with you,” he said.
Asked about the demands of daily wagers ahead of the Assembly session and the ongoing strike by National Health Mission employees, Sadiq said the government wanted to resolve genuine demands.
“Just as the issue of interns was a very big issue, the Honourable Health Minister resolved it. This government will always want that whatever genuine demands its people have, whether they are employees or anyone else in Jammu and Kashmir, should be resolved in some way,” he said.Sadiq said the upcoming Assembly session would provide a platform for raising issues concerning people.
“Now the Assembly is coming. There are many things. It is a platform where people’s voices are raised,” he said.
“We hope that people’s issues are raised, their bills are passed, resolutions are passed, and some resolution is reached on the important work concerning the people. That is why we will be in the Assembly,” Sadiq added.
