Bengaluru: BJP is planning a five-day padayatra across all 224 assembly constituencies from Sept 15 over the Vande Mataram row between the opposition and the DK Shivakumar govt.Party workers will take out marches in their respective constituencies and submit memoranda to tahsildars and deputy commissioners, demanding that the govt withdraw its decision to restrict Vande Mataram to two stanzas at official events, BJP state president BY Vijayendra said Saturday.The mobilisation comes less than a week after BJP concluded its 10-day Ballari Chalo padayatra from Raichur to Ballari, making the Sept 15 programme the party’s second major statewide street campaign in a month. “Vande Mataram is not merely a song. It ignited the spirit of the freedom struggle among crores of Indians and evoked a sense of patriotism among the people,” Vijayendra said.The state govt has ordered that only the first two stanzas be sung at its programmes, except those attended by the president, vice-president, prime minister or governor. The Centre had directed in Jan that all six stanzas be sung before Jana Gana Mana when both are played.“Shivakumar should learn a lesson from the Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, who is in favour of following the Centre’s decision to sing all six stanzas,” Vijayendra said.The Congress Working Committee had on Aug 19 decided to follow its 1937 resolution under which only two stanzas are sung at party events.The BJP state chief alleged that the Congress decision was aimed at minority appeasement.Vijayendra also targeted Shivakumar over the 2028 assembly election, saying, “he is dreaming that he will become chief minister of Karnataka again in 2028. But he also knows that this dream will not come true.”He said BJP would return to power in 2028.
