J-K CM says people need time to adjust to Vande Mataram at events

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said people will take time to get used to singing Vande Mataram as it was added to official functions only this year. He made the remarks while commenting on the controversy over Congress leaders' alleged disrespect to the national song. Abdullah said the Independence Day parade on Saturday was the eighth he attended as CM, but the national song was played for the first time.

A complaint filed with the Delhi Police sought an FIR against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for allegedly obstructing the singing of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters. The Congress has asserted there was no attempt to stop the full version and cited a 1937 party decision to sing only the initial stanzas. Abdullah said the controversy should not exist as all verses were sung, adding that even he needed time to adjust to the new protocol.

Abdullah refused to comment on PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's post calling herself a 'dimaagi naxal' for supporting Article 370 restoration. On student protests in Jharkhand, he said there must be some truth to their demands as the government held talks. He also criticised the centralisation of exams like NEET, saying it led to the resignation of Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan.