THANE: A Hindi song sung by legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, featuring a reference to ‘Vande Mataram‘, was mistakenly played instead of the official version of the national song at a government event attended by Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde in Thane, news agency PTI reported.The incident took place on Monday evening during a function organised to mark the conclusion of a Marathi language course campaign for cab and auto-rickshaw drivers from non-Marathi backgrounds. Certificates were distributed to participants who successfully completed the course.At the start of the programme, the sound system played a track from a private album song sung by Lata Mangeshkar, which contained a ‘Vande Mataram’ refrain. The official version of the national song was not played, PTI reported.A video clip of the incident subsequently surfaced on social media and went viral.Shinde, who attended the event, addressed the issue towards the end of the programme and called on organisers to exercise caution at public functions.He said organisers must ensure that the official version and the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ approved by Parliament are played at public programmes.Shinde also said the version played during the event was not in the style and form approved by Parliament.The deputy chief minister stressed the need to maintain the sanctity and uniform protocol associated with the national song and advised organisers to remain vigilant.According to PTI, Shinde specifically asked event organisers to ensure that only the official, Parliament-sanctioned rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ is played at such programmes.(With agency inputs)
