Upadhyay's remark on 'Vande Matram' highlights Cong's policy to divide nation: BJP

Coming down heavily on Uttarakhand Congress chief Kishore Upadhyay for his remark to not sing 'Vande Matram', the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said the former's statement highlights the policy of the grand-old party, which is to divide the nation.

"Upadhyay's statement highlights the mindset of the Congress Party. He shouldn't be blamed for this. It is the Congress's policy to divide the nation. If the Congress chief doesn't want to sing the national song, what can we say about it? It is the Congress' policy to destroy all the nationalist thinking and to support all those people who are against the nation," state BJP chief Ajay Bhatt told ANI.

Bhatt alleged that the Congress Party has always supported anti-national activity.

"The Congress Party supported Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students Union Kanhaiya kumar, who raised anti-national slogans, saying that it is individuals right. The person who wanted to divide the nation, they (Congress) called them individuals right," he added.

He even defended Uttarakhand minister Dhan Singh Rawat for his remark on 'Vande Mataram' and said that the former didn't want to force anyone to recite the National Song, adding that his remark is being twisted by the BJP.

"None of our ministers has forced anyone to sing Vande Mataram. We have just said that Jan Gan Man and Vande Matatram should be recited in schools. People nowadays are forgetting it. It is not a fault of our minister. His statement is being twisted by Congress. But we don't care about this," he said.

Earlier in the day, daring the ruling BJP to throw him out of the state if they can, Upadhyay refused to sing 'Vande Mataram', saying he can't be forced to do so.

"If the BJP Government sets a condition and forces me to sing Vande Mataram then I will not. I challenge the government to throw me out of Uttarakhand. This is completely dividing the society on the basis of patriotism," Upadhyay said in a press briefing here.

On April 7, Uttarakhand minister Dhan Singh Rawat stirred controversy by saying, "If one wants to stay in Uttarakhand, then they must sing Vande Matram".

Earlier in February, the Supreme Court rejected the plea filed by leader and senior Supreme Court advocate Ashwini Upadhyay seeking direction to give equal respect to the national song as given to the national anthem.

Upadhyay had earlier filed a plea in the apex court seeking directions to the Centre for issuing a policy to promote and propagate the national anthem, national flag and national song.

The petition sought a direction to frame a national policy to promote and propagate the national anthem, national song and national flag in spirit of Article 51A.