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BJP singling out Sonia on Vande Mataram issue: Gehlot

Special Correspondent

Party not critical if Mulayam, Sharad Yadav or Fernandes kept away from singing the song

JAIPUR: Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot has questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party's stand on the Congress president Sonia Gandhi not singing Vande Mataram.

The BJP was making "unnecessary fuss" on the matter with an eye on making political capital out of it. "There is no issue involved at all," he said.

"It is surprising that the BJP leadership did not try to find out whether the presidents of other political parties such as the Samajwadi party, the Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal and the leaders of the Communist parties had sung the song on that day. Many of the Union Ministers and a good number of Chief Ministers also did not sing the song but the BJP leadership has singled out Ms.Gandhi for its attack," Mr.Gehlot said, talking to The Hindu on Sunday.

"As far as I know even the President or the Vice President did not participate in any official programme to sing Vande Mataram on that day," Mr.Gehlot observed.

"The BJP leadership is not critical if Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sharad Yadav or George Fernandes kept away from singing the song. They are singling out Sonia Gandhi for the attack," he noted.

Mr.Gehlot said there was no national level call for the singing of Vande Mataram and the Human Resources Development Ministry had issued a circular to the schools for students to sing it on September 7 to observe the centenary of the song.

The All India Congress Committee too had no programme on that day though the Seva Dal organized the singing of the song in party offices.

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