Criticism on Vande Mataram validated: Riyas

Kozhikode: Former minister and Beypore MLA-elect P A Mohamed Riyas said that the remarks made by chief minister V D Satheesan about the full rendering of Vande Mataram song during the swearing-in function validated the stand raised by the CPM on the issue."We had pointed out that singing the full version of Vande Mataram, beyond just the opening lines, at UDF govt's swearing-in ceremony was against the idea of secularism upheld by the Constitution. The CM's statement on Wednesday has confirmed that the criticism we raised was valid. A constructive opposition's duty and the responsibility of upholding secularism have been carried out here," Riyas said in a Facebook post.Riyas said that though CPM holds a different opinion regarding CM's remark that he was unaware the full version of Vande Mataram would be sung, they were not raising that issue now considering this is a new govt. Riyas had on Monday expressed that only the first two stanzas of the song have generally been officially sung at public functions. TNN