New Delhi, May 30: The Samajwadi Party (SP) has voiced strong opinions regarding the Vande Mataram controversy in Kerala, with spokesperson Ashutosh Verma and MP Rajiv Kumar Rai addressing various issues, including illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
In a conversation about the Vande Mataram issue, MP Rajiv Kumar Rai stated, “The role of governors is not truly independent. Just as the British appointed their agents, today governors act as agents of the central government, parroting everything said in Delhi.”
On the matter of Bangladeshi infiltrators, Rai urged the government to release figures on those expelled, highlighting that no such actions have been taken in Jharkhand. “Such claims are often made before elections. The same was said regarding the SIR process in Bihar. Even the Supreme Court has turned a blind eye to this issue,” he remarked.
Verma added, “I believe nothing should be imposed. The flexibility of our Constitution makes it unique. One cannot dictate patriotism. It is a matter of freedom whether one sings the entire Vande Mataram or just four lines. We have been singing just four lines since childhood. However, insisting that one must sing the entire song cannot work in India.”
Verma further criticized the BJP, calling it a “jumla party.” He pointed out that from 2004 to 2014, during the UPA government, 50,972 Bangladeshis were sent back according to official figures. “Since 2014, only 5,335 have been sent back. Comparing the UPA’s ten years with Modi’s eleven years reveals the reality,” he stated.
On speculation regarding D.K. Shivakumar becoming Chief Minister in Karnataka, Verma praised the Congress for its effective transformation under leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
Both SP MP Rajiv Rai and spokesperson Ashutosh Verma claimed that the SP would form the government in Uttar Pradesh this time, asserting that the BJP’s exit from the center would also be assured.