Vande Mataram in Telangana Assembly: AIMIM MLAs, MLCs stage walk out

AIMIM MLAs and MLCs staged a walkout from the Telangana Assembly during the playing of Vande Mataram before and after the Governor’s address. The move sparked a political row, with BJP leaders criticising the protest and demanding action

Hyderabad: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLAs and Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) staged a walkout from the Assembly on Monday, protesting against ‘Vande Mataram’ being played in the House before and after Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla’s joint address.

In a new practice, the Telangana official song ‘Jaya Jaya Hai Telangana’, the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ and the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ were played in the House before and after the Governor’s address.

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AIMIM MLAs and MLCs were present in the House when the Telangana song was played and did not raise any objection. However, when ‘Vande Mataram’ was played, they staged a walkout and returned only when ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was played. All this happened before the Governor’s address.

Later, after the Governor’s address concluded, ‘Jaya Jaya Hai Telangana’ was played again. When ‘Vande Mataram’ was played, the AIMIM MLAs once again staged a walkout from the House.

The incident triggered a political furore in the State, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raising strong objections and pointing out that the ruling Congress party has been calling the AIMIM its friendly party in the State.

Sharing a video of AIMIM leaders walking out of the Assembly on X, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay said: “Shameful that MIM MLAs choose to walk out of the Telangana Assembly while Vande Mataram was being sung. This is not just a protest, it is a direct insult to the national song and the spirit of our motherland.”

“Why is MIM allergic to Indian symbols? Their true colours are out for everyone to see,” he added.

Similarly, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy termed the AIMIM MLAs and MLCs walking out of the Assembly as shameful and anti-national. He asked Speaker G Prasad Kumar to take note of the action and initiate action against the MIM legislators.