Top News

MADURAI, Aug 24: Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram on Monday strongly defended his party’s stance on the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’, emphasising that the party has a “long legacy of nationalism and patriotism” and does not need lessons from the BJP.

Speaking to reporters here, Karti hit out at the BJP for “casting aspersions” for singing only two stanzas of the national song.

“We are nationalists. We come from a party which has a long legacy of nationalism and patriotism. So the BJP need not cast any aspersions on us,” he said.

Responding to criticism over singing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram, he said, “The BJP must read the history… the decision was taken collectively by stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, all in their collective wisdom decided that only two stanzas would be appropriate and adequate to have us a national song.”

Asked about ardent fans pitching actor-turned-politician and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for prime minister, the Congress leader said securing the top post strictly requires the backing of 272 MPs.

“Any political formation that secures this number will see its leader become Prime Minister,” he added.

In response to queries about actor Dhanush expected to enter politics, he briefly stated, “I don’t watch his movies”.

Addressing the contentious Mekedatu dam issue and its impact on Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Karti emphasised the necessity of ensuring that Tamil Nadu consistently receives its due share of Cauvery water every year, as per the Cauvery Management Board.

Karti expressed deep concern over ongoing custodial deaths and honour killings.

He attributed custodial deaths to the “mindset of the police,” whom he accused of still behaving like a “colonial force” that uses brutal and third-degree methods of interrogation.

He called for a complete overhaul of the police training manual and the implementation of psychological and sensitivity training from the rank of constable up to the Director General of Police (DGP).

He termed honour killings a social issue that requires political and non-political parties to raise awareness, noting that it can only be ended by fostering amicable societal relationships and negating caste.

Karti also proposed an alternative to the Chief Minister’s announcement regarding personal vehicles for MLAs. He suggested adopting a model similar to Delhi’s parliamentary pool system, which ferries MPs who do not have their own cars. (PTI)